If online permit system not ready within three months, GMSB director board will dissolve: Amaraweera

The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) director board will be dissolved if the online system for issuing permits for sand, gravel, and granite excavation and transport is not prepared within three months, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

The decision was announced after GSMB directors were convened by the Minister to inquire into the progress of this online task.

According to the current practice of the GSMB in issuing permits for sand, gravel, and granite excavation and transport, the public is required to visit the head office as well as the regional offices.

Due to huge congestion on a daily basis, it is learnt that people have to wander around in vain. Also the delay in issuing licenses could lead people to fall prey to corrupt elements.l

Therefore, Minister Amaraweera instructed GSMB on several occasions to set up an online registration system as an alternative, but this has not been done. However, it was revealed that no action has been taken so far.

The Minister stated that a maximum of three months will be allotted for the establishment of an online system for issuing permits for sand, granite, and soil excavation and transportation. If the process is not completed within that period, the present Board of Directors of the GMSB will be dissolved. He also informed the officials that he should be submitted a monthly report on the progress of the online registration portal.

Currently, the GMSB issues around one million permits for sand, gravel, excavation, and transportation annually. It was revealed that the number of transport permits issued last year exceeded 1.2 million. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)