NEW DELHI, JUNE 1
A South Goa iron ore mining project cleared back in September 2007 by the Environment Ministry has been put on hold following an intervention of the National Environment Appellate Authority, New Delhi.
Responding to a Goan environment group’s appeal against the Cariamol mines at Pirla village in Quepem Taluka, the authority has stayed the environment clearance to the project and asked the Environment Ministry to obtain a clearance from the National Board for Wildlife as it is hardly 10 km from the Cotigao and Netravali wildlife sanctuaries.
A letter dashed off to mine owner Jaisinh Maganlal says the environment clearance is kept in abeyance in view of the orders issued by the authority on May 13. The clearance was challenged by Gomantak Shetkari Sanghatana (GSS) through Ritwick Dutta.
The group first sought relief from Delhi High Court which directed the authority to examine the case. It sought cancellation of permission for mining of iron ore on the grounds that it was very close to the wild life sanctuaries as also just 50 metres from the river Kushawati.
Besides, it also cited location of an ancient monument within half a kilometre of the mining site that may be affected.
Quepem correspondent adds: It may be recalled that at the hearing of Cariamol iron ore mine on September 7, 2006 at Gomant Vidhya Niketan hall, Margao, the villagers of Pirla had raised several objections to the proposed mine.
The villagers had objected that the proposed mine at Pirla in Quepem taluka was at a distance of barely 20 mtrs from Kushawati River and if the mine was allowed the Kushwati River would be severally affected.
Besides, the villagers had also objected that the Ponsamol protected site, which houses ancient carvings, is at a distance of barely 500 mtrs from the proposed mines and also argued that proposed mining activities would affect agricultural land in the area.
However, despite the objections raised by the villagers, authorities had given environment clearance to the mines.
