TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has declined to renew the Consent to Operate of the mining lease owned by H L Nathurmal, located at Arvalem in Bicholim taluka, in the wake of Supreme Court decision to halt mining operations in Goa.
“The lease holder is given liberty to apply for renewal of consent to operate once the Supreme Court and State government revoke their decision of stopping mining operations in the state,” the order issued on May 2, reads.
Haresh Melwani, owners of H L Nathurmal had approached the High Court, last year, after GSPCB rejected his application for renewal of consent following Supreme Court directions. The mine was amongst the 107 leases, whose applications to renew the Air and Water consent were returned by GSPCB stating that it cannot renew them unless the apex court revokes its order.
The High Court after hearing the matter had directed GSPCB to take appropriate decision within four weeks and communicate the same to the Court.
Accordingly, an online revised application was made by Melwani on April 8, 2013 for renewal of consent. Following which a show cause notice was issued to the lease holder under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and control of pollution) Act 1974, as to why the application should not be rejected in view of the State government and Supreme Court halting mining activities in the state.
“Considering the ban imposed on the mining operations, GSPCB is not inclined to consider the applications for renewal,” the order stated.
