Team Herald

PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has stayed the work of excavation and transportation of excavated minor minerals at the site of MRF factory at Dhatwada in Usgao.

The interim order on Wednesday was in response to a petition filed by Dhatwada Usgao Citizens Forum opposing large excavation as well as dumping of minor mineral in the form of mud in the vicinity sans obtaining Environmental Clearance. 

In 2017, the Directorate of Mines & Geology had granted the permission to excavate in the row of factory expansion. The villagers have been opposing the expansion of MRF and the gram sabha in 2017 had even resolved to revoke the permission. The villagers had also protested several telling of trees at the plant site and had also expressed fear that carbon particles emanating from the plant would affect their health.