Directs MoEF to ban allocation of fresh mining leases in Sanguem, Sattari
SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: Even as the fate of the mining industry in Goa hangs in balance, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has in a major jolt to the ailing industry banned allocation of any fresh mining leases or expansion of existing ones in the iron-ore rich belt of Sanguem and Sattari talukas.
The Ministry has also curtailed industrial development in the backward talukas of Canacona, Sanguem and Sattari, noting that they are highly eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) or regions in the Western Ghat.
Interestingly, almost 60 per cent of the working and non-working mining leases in the state happen to be in Sanguem and Sattari talukas. The Ministry’s order will spell doom for any further industrial growth in this belt.
In a major setback to the state’s industrial prospects, MoEF has also banned the townships and development of industrial projects admeasuring area of 50 hectares and above in all three talukas. The new building and construction projects of 20,000 square metres or built-up area of 1,50,00 square metres and above are also banned in these talukas.
The ban also covers new and expansion of existing sand mining in these three talukas.
The Ministry, however, has made it clear that all those projects which were received by MoEF’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) or State EAC or State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for permissions before publishing of high-level working group (HLWG) report April 17, 2013 , could be dealt with guidelines / rules applicable while submitting the applications.
MoEF has also said that apart from these cases, no pending case or any fresh case shall be considered by the EACs/MoEF or SEAC/SEIAA.
MoEF, through a November 11communication, have issued directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, banning new and expansions of all pollution and environmental degradation projects in all three talukas. The directions are issued following acceptance of ‘in-principle’ recommendations of the K Kasturirangan panel report on Western Ghats that stated that 37 per cent of the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats ~ about 60,000 sq km of the total 1,64,000 sq km ~ be notified as ESZ.
The panel was constituted in August 2012 to advise the government on the recommendations made by the Western Ghats ecology expert panel led by Prof Madhav Gadgil, which had said the entire Western Ghats should be declared as ESZ.
“Because of unprecedented threats to natural landscape of Western Ghats region by development projects and urban growth, the Working Group has recommended a no-tolerance policy with respect to highly interventionist and environmentally damaging activities like mining or polluting industries. HLWG has highlighted the need for urgent action for protection of biologically rich, diverse and natural landscape of the Ghats,” MOEF deputy director Dr Amit Love said in a letter to Goa government.
“Keeping in view the above, immediate action is required to be taken by the Central Government in public interest in light of Rule 4(5) and Rule 5(4) of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 as amended from time to time to preserve the environmental integrity of the Western Ghats,” the deputy director said.
National Green Tribunal in its recent order has asked MoEF to consider Kasturirangan report while deciding on the clearances for various projects.
