Forest not to grant wildlife clearance to 12 renewed leases
Leases are located in one km of WLS, where mininig isn’t allowed
State has allowed fresh extraction of almost 2 million tons to these leases
SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM Twelve iron ore renewed mining leases will not to be granted wildlife clearance for being located in the eco-sensitive zone of one kilometer of wildlife sanctuaries (WLS) and a national park. Though, the environment clearances (EC) of these mines are still kept in abeyance by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), the leases are highlighted in the list of those 61 mines, which are allowed fresh extraction on pro-rata basis.
Of the total 89 renewed mining leases the MoEF had lifted the abeyance on ECs in case of 72 leases, which does not include those 12 leases which are in one km buffer zone of WLS and national parks.
However, these 12 are part of those 61 leases which are allowed fresh extraction, to fit into the annual cap of 20 million tons. These leases are allowed fresh extraction of total 1.79 million tons by the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG).
Highly placed sources confirmed that the Forest Department will not grant clearance under Wildlife (protection) Act 1972, for being located in the buffer zone area. “The chief wildlife warden will not grant any clearance to these leases as mining is a prohibited activity in the eco-sensitive area, as per the latest MoEF notification,” sources said.
“Also the eco-sensitive zone notification of Goa also provides that these mines be phased out within a period of ten years, subject to Supreme Court modifying its interim order dated August, 4, 2006,” sources said.
Sources said that if Supreme Court grants permission to these leases for operation in eco-sensitive zone, then the clearance can be granted.
These 12 leases belongs to V M Salgaocar (4), N S Narvekar (2), Kunda Gharse (3), and one each belonging to Ramakant Poinguinkar, Manual D’Costa and Achut Velingkar. Total 1.79 millions tons fresh extraction permission is been granted to six out of 12 leases.
The leases are located in Netravali WLS, Bhagwan Mahavir WLS and Mhadei WLS.
The Forest Department has also decided to consider the leases beyond the buffer zone area, on case to case basis, wherever wildlife clearance is required.
