BICHOLIM: Environmentalists have condemned the Pilgao ore transportation which continued for the second day, as blatantly illegal and against High Court and Supreme Court judgements. They accused the CM of siding with Vedanta, which they said was known for illegalities.
A total of 40 trips per hour have been allowed from 9am to 5pm with a one hour lunch break and a total of 50 trips per hour between 11pm and 5.30am, BY Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
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Trips at night are illegal and sleep is a fundamental right, as declared by the Supreme Court, Environmentalist Ramesh Gawas told Herald TV.
“All that is going on here (ore transportation) at Bicholim is all illegal. And Vedanta is smart when it comes to doing illegal activities. And they enjoy the Chief Minister’s support. So now that road which was not allowed for ore transportation by the Environment Impact Assessment Agency, there was no mention of Environment Clearance, they have started using this road. And CM is supporting them. CM has said that this is in public interest. Which public’s interest is he talking about,” Ramesh Gawas asked.
“ There will be transportation during the day, but also transportation will begin at night, ie from 11.00pm to 5.30am, And CM has given them this opportunity. The High Court has given an order that ore transportation can take place till 6pm. Secondly, there is a Supreme Court order that Sleep is a Fundamental Right. So they will disturb the sleep of the villagers. And our misfortune is that our CM does not know either the judgement or the Fundamental Right,” Gawas said.
