PANJIM: In the absence of a full-fledged Chairman, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has till now, failed to initiate action against the iron ore leases, operational in Sattari whose ore-laden mining trucks pass through Sonshi village  for gross violation of pollution norms, eight days after the inspection was carried out to monitor the air quality in the village. The matter would be heard by High Court on Wednesday. 

The post of Chairman has been vacant since March 2016 after former chairman Jose Manual Noronha was appointed as chairman of the Goa Public Service Commission. The State Chief Secretary (CS) was handed over the additional charge as the Chairman of the Board. Currently, CS Dharmendra Sharma is the Chairman, who is the appellant authority under the Air and Water Pollution Act, to issue order for necessary action against the violators of Air and Water pollution norms. 

GSPCB had initially observed that the mining lease holders have violated the pollution norms while undertaking transportation of iron ore at Sonshi village -- where hundreds of locals claimed to have been denied the right of fresh air and water due to the transportation. 

The High Court of Bombay at Goa taking suo motu cognisance of the media reports on the plight on Sonshi villagers and had issued notices to the State government and GSPCB. Following the same, the Board on April 18, conducted the inspection of the ambient air quality there and prima facie found dust in the air and violations of conditions led down in the Consent to Operate granted to the lessees. 

The GSPCB acting member secretary Shivanand Salelkar on Tuesday informed the delegation of Aam Aadmi party (AAP) that the Sonshi inspection report was placed before Chairman on April 21, recommending action against the mining lease holders. “However, we have not received any reply from the Chairman. He being the appellant authority, we have to wait for his directions,” he said. 

When contacted, the chairman was unavailable for the comments. 

Sources said the matter is coming up before High Court on Wednesday and that the Chairman, through Advocate General may make some statement on the pollution issue and the necessary action that would be initiated against the mining firms.

The mining bigwigs -- Vedanta Ltd and Fomento has a total of seven mining leases operational in and around Sonshi village. 

Sources say that in the absence of full-fledged Chairman, the functioning of the Board has become sluggish, as the State government continues to drag its feet on the appointment of Chairman and Member Secretary of the Board as per National Green Tribunal (NGT) order. 

Apparently, it is been learnt that Government is most likely to re-advertise for both the posts, after seven names -- four for Member Secretary and three for Chairman -- shortlisted are not as per the requirement.

Special knowledge or practical experience in the environment protection studies for both the posts is been mandatory. for all the State Pollution Board across Country by NGT.

Meanwhile, amid the GSPCB delay in initiating action against the mining firms responsible for air pollution in Sonshi village, 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.