The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) will issue sand, soil and gravel transport permits online from next week, the Environment Ministry said in a press release.
“Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the GSMB has taken steps to launch an online program to issue permits for the transportation of sand, soil/gravel for development projects and the people’s needs,” the release said. The Minister was speaking at a media briefing yesterday at the Ministry.
The Minister said that the step was taken in line with the instructions by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to reduce the number of people visiting government offices for services and to take steps through new technology to make it easier for them to obtain services.
Between 1,000 and 2,000 people visit the regional offices of the GSMB everyday to obtain transport permits. The number of transport licences issued annually exceeds one million.
There is a lot of congestion on this issue daily as the transport licences have to be renewed annually.
The GSMB has issued 777,000 transport licences so far this year.
The Minister said that one of the objectives of this programme is to prevent irregularities in the issuance of transport licences.
Delays in the issuance of transport permits could affect the minerals required for development projects and construction by the public. The Minister said, thefore, issuing licences online will be launched. Central Environmental Authority Director General Sajjana de Silva said that the online issuance of transport permits will be launched from September 30.
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