PANJIM: Even as mining leases have been left unmanned after the Supreme Court quashed second renewals, Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) has claimed that currently there is no danger of any sort at the lease sites. DGMS has identified nine mining leases as vulnerable during the monsoon. 

Mines Secretary Daulat Hawaldar chaired a crucial meeting on mines safety for the monsoon. It was informed at the meeting that the erstwhile leaseholders have covered all the mines, which are treated as vulnerable and that there is no danger observed at this point. 

As mining lease areas identified as vulnerable include Lamgao mine of Sesa Goa at Bicholim, Codli mines of Sesa, Costi mine belonging to Chowgule, R S Shetye mines and Cosme Costa mine in Sonshi, Hiralal Khodidas mine operated by Fomento, Shivsarem mine of Vedanta, NS Narvekar mine at Sanguem and Copordem mine at Sattari.

Goa has seen several mining related accidents during past monsoons. A major one was in 2011, wherein three people had died after being trapped under a mining pit at Mulgao in South Goa. Several cases of property damages have been reported due to washing away of mining pits and sludge entering villages.

Though DGMS, which is the nodal agency to deal with safety measures at mining sites, had expressed satisfaction over the steps initiated to ensure there are no accidents, a fresh inspection will be undertaken to assess the situation from June 26 to 30. 

“The secretary has asked the authorities and the erstwhile leaseholders to be alert as IMD has already issued heavy rainfall warning for the next four days,” Director Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya said. He said that directions have been issued to Water Resources Department to inspect and identify critical pits during monsoon.