SANGUEM: The sudden commencement of transportation of mineral ore from Timblo Mines at Tolem in Sanguem has surprised everyone in the town and has left the people wondering if the transportation of ore is undertaken in blatant violation of the Apex Court order.
Ever since Thursday morning, a large number of trucks loaded with iron ore were seen making trips from Tolem Mines thereby raising doubts over the legality of the transportation activity being carried out by the mine owner.
While as per the Apex Court order, the ore lying at the mines belongs to the State government ever since the cut of date of March 14, the sudden transportation activity has raised eyebrows among the locals as to what the game is all about.
A villager Gurudas Velip residing in the vicinity of the mines doubted the legality of the sudden transportation of ore from Tolem mines when in fact mining activity is under total ban since second fortnight of March.
Velip informed that his calls to the officials at the Directorate of Mines were disconnected when he sought to know over the legality of ore transportation.
Sources informed that the officials at the loading point of the mines claim the transportation of the ore being done is part of e-auctioned ore. Sources reportedly claim that a part of 50,000 tonnes of e-auctioned ore still remains to be transported and it is part of this e-auctioned ore that transportation is being done.
Meanwhile, when Herald contacted the office of Goa Foundation, Claude Alvares informed that the stay granted by the High Court towards the transportation of ore is still in operation.
