Employees of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Division of the Department of Environmental Supervision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture identified a case of illegal extraction of a large quantity of mineral resources in the vicinity of Pansheti village, Stepantsminda Municipality.

The offender illegally extracted 1,000 cubic meters of sand and gravel from the bed of the Tergi River using specialized equipment.

The environmental damage caused by the violation amounted to GEL 15,950.

The identified case contains signs of a criminal offense. Accordingly, the case materials were forwarded to the relevant authority for further action.

Illegal extraction of mineral resources causes significant environmental damage. The consequences of illegal sand and gravel extraction may include riverbed deformation, riverbank collapse, soil erosion, flooding of populated areas, declining water levels, and the destruction of ecosystems.

The timely Prevention, detection, and suppression of illegal use of natural resources is a top priority for the Department of Environmental Supervision. The patrol crews of the Department of Environmental Supervision conduct continuous 24-hour monitoring.