25 Apr 2017 | 07:16pm IST
AAP gheraos GSPCB officials on Sonshi issue
Team Herald
PANJIM:
Amidst
the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) delay in initiating action
against the mining firms responsible for air pollution in Sonshi village, the
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday gheroad the pollution authorities demanding immediate
suspension of consent to operate granted to all seven leases operational in the
vicinity of the village.
The
party delegation led by its convener Elvis Gomes is contemplating filing
contempt petition in the Supreme Court, which is hearing the illegal mining
case of Goa, informing gross violations of pollution norms and transportation
by the mining firms and failure of the government to act upon.
Since
the member Secretary Levinson Martins is on leave, the acting MS Shivanand
Salelkar had meeting with the delegation, wherein he informed that the
inspection team of engineers have proposed action against the mining firms, but
the file is pending with Chairman cum Chief Secretary.
The
party leaders including Valmiki Naik, Ravindra Velip, Pradip Amonkar Ghadi,
questioned Board’s delay in initiating action against the mining leases, which
are undertaking iron ore transportation from the residential area, in violation
of guidelines set by Supreme Court and the Union Ministry for Environment and
Forest (MoEF).
Velip
pointed out that as per the government record, there are 800-900 trucks
operational at these mining sites, who carry out on an average 4000 trips
daily. “However, the villagers claim that the trips are not less than 8000 per
day, transporting almost one lakh tons of ore daily,” he said.
The
anti-mining crusader further brought to the notice of the Board members that as
per the MoEF guidelines, the ore transportation should not be allowed from the
roads passing through villages or residential areas. “The transportation itself
is in violation and Board has the executive powers to act upon,” he said.
Later
Naik demanded that the operation of all these mining leases be suspended till
pollution measures are put in place. “If authorities fail to do, we intend to
move to Supreme Court with contempt petition,” he said.
Explaining
about the monitoring of the pollution, Senior geologist Sanjiv Joglekar said
that though the monitoring at the air ambient station across all the State is
done twice a week, we don’t have such station at Sonshi, as it is currently at
Honda, which is 1.5 kms distance. “Following HC order, we are now in process of
installing the same. We have identified the places and now waiting for NOC from
the locals,” he explained.