BICHOLIM: Large number of villagers from Bicholim, Bordem, Larmgao, Mayem, Shirgao and surrounding villages on Friday, strongly demanded that their interest be safe guarded and to allay their concerned before restarting mining activity.
The demand was made during the environmental public hearing conducted by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) at Bicholim, for the e-auctioned Bicholim Mineral Block-I.
Most of the speakers said that they were not opposed to mining per say but had objection to the haphazard manner in which it was being carried out. They demanded a sustainable mining plan.
The villagers also objected to the fact that no subject experts who could address their queries and allay their apprehensions from the government side were present. Some of the attendees even demanded postponing of the public hearing objecting to the fact that the mining block has been shown as a fresh lease, just commencing production, when the mining lease has been under continuous operation since 1941.
The villagers said that there were opposed to declaring of green zone and demanded that the authorities should settle their demands including pending compensation.
They also demanded assurance from the authorities that their houses and temples will be protected and it will be excluded from the lease areas.
North Goa Collector Mamu Hage told them that the public hearing has been fixed as per the rules and that it cannot be cancelled.
Initially, about 190 villagers had registered their names for the public hearing but the number of speakers increased and the public hearing was completed at night.
