To ensure protection to life and property as part of monsoon preparedness
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The State government has asked mining companies to put in place safety measures as part of monsoon preparedness at their mines to ensure safety of lives and property of the people residing in the vicinity of the mining leases.
In an order issued on Monday, Directorate of Mines and Geology has said that there is no need for the mining companies to approach the department for NOCs to carry out safety measures at their mining leases.
The safety measures however should be carried out under supervision of Director General of Mines Safety, Goa Region.
“A number of mining companies have approach this office requesting for the permission to take up monsoon preparedness activities at the mines for safety of people living around the mining area,” the order issued by Director Mines Prasanna Acharya reads.
The department has clarified that Supreme Court while halting mining activities in Goa in October 2012, had specified that the said order shall not come in the way of safety measures undertaken, (which) involve pumping of water from mining pits and other measures for safety of surrounding areas under supervision of Director General of Mines Safety.
In 2011 two mining accidents occurred in Goa ~one at Sesa Resources Mines site at Mulgao and the other at Cuddegal iron ore mines at Sanvordem owned by Greater Ferrome where three persons were killed.
Thereafter a high level monitoring committee was set up to review safety measures at all the over 90 operational mining sites in Goa. The committee had asked the mining firms to possibly get the surface rights of the areas surrounding their mining, which are likely to be affected with the mining activity.
If surface rights cannot be purchased then effective protective measures need to be designed and implemented so as to prevent any damage to such structures and properties due to mining activity or water run off.
They were also asked assess rain water likely to be collected in the mine area, by taking the highest rainfall on any day for last ten years into account.
