TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Pending a petition before the Bombay High Court at Goa, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has cancelled the proposed environment public hearing on the opening of new iron ore mining lease at Cavrem village in Quepem, scheduled on April 11.
The GAKUVED Federation and nine other petitioners have filed a Public Interest Litigation Writ Petition (PILWP) in the High Court against the proposed mine Zamblidadga Dongor Iron and Manganese Ore mine at Cavrem. They have opposed diversion of forest land for mining purpose pending settlement of forest rights.
The petitioners had sought interim relief to restrain GSPCB from proceeding with the public hearing with regards to the application for prior Environmental Clearance (EC) submitted by the mining lessee.
The GSPCB member secretary Shamila Monteiro in a public notice issued on Sunday has informed that in view of the directions issued by the District Magistrate, South Goa, the proposed environment public hearing is cancelled.
The GAKUVED Federation has sought directions to expedite the process of settlement of the forest rights claim of the villagers of Cavrem in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Forest Rights Act, 2006. There are a total 149 individual claims and one Community Resource Rights (CRR) claim filed on this mountain under Forest Rights Act, which are due for settlement.
As per the draft environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the ‘Zamblidadga Dongor Iron and Manganese Ore Mine’ having lease area of 70.20 ha, the lessee has proposed to mine 0.5 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of iron ore from the mining lease area.
