PANJIM: With just about a month left for the new iron ore mining season to commence, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is yet to decide on the Consent to Operate to 12 mining leases in Sonshi village in Sattari, which were embroiled in a major controversy due to air pollution in the village.
The Board, which met on Monday, deferred the decision on granting the consent under the Air and Water Pollution Act to the 12 mining leases, considering objections raised by Goa Foundation, local truck operators and Sonshi panchayat.
Sources said the Board has decided to consider the representations made by three different bodies before deciding upon the consent to the mines.
The mining season will commence in October. In the last season 46 mining leases were operational.
Mining activities at Sonshi have been shut down since April 28, after GSPCB declined to grant Consent to Operate to 12 of the 13 mining leases operating there, after dust pollution was found to have occurred due to mining activities.
The 12 leases, whose Consent to Operate have not been renewed belong to Vedanta Ltd, Chowgules, Geetabai Parulekar, RS Shetye, Kunda Gharse, Sociedade Timblo Irmaos Pvt Ltd, Sociedade Fomento Pvt Ltd, Cosme Costa and Kashinath Talavlekar.
The mining companies, whose Consent to Operate had expired in April had approached the board to renew its consent, but except for the lease belonging to V G Quenim, all others were denied permission.
Reeling under criticism of pollution, the mining companies had roped in Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad to suggest measures for curbing pollution and also a concept to monitor the air ambient quality in the mining areas. It has already submitted its report with various measures including self governing audit protocol of all operational mines in the State.
