Team Herald
BICHOLIM: The people from Navelim and Amona in Bicholim Taluka, under the banner Lok Jagrut Manch, on Sunday, opposed the move of a mining company for expansion of its plant in the village.
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The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Sanquelim ex-MLA, Pratap Gawas. The meeting resolved to oppose the expansion and also to cancel the public hearing to be held on January 24, 2021.
A special public awareness meeting was held at Navelim where the villagers strongly opposed the move and also questioned the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) whether they have taken into consideration all the issues related to it. The meeting was held at the backdrop of the public hearing scheduled at Navelim village on January 24 from 10.30 am to 7.00 pm.
“GSPCB should make it clear how much pollution this expansion of plants would create. They should also show us as to whether it would be binding on the company to plant more trees,” former Sanquelim sarpanch, Pravin Blegan said.
The villagers said that there are about 44 furnaces and four more would come up in the area. There is also expansion of the existing oxygen plant and the plant would take oxygen from air. They sighted that if this happens the oxygen level in the village and surrounding areas would decrease.
