PANJIM: The District Magistrate North will on Monday hear the mining leaseholders, who have refused to continue pumping of water for the purpose of drinking and irrigation for the villagers in the mining belt.
The District Magistrate last month had invoked Section 133 (1) Criminal Procedure Code 1973 and passed a conditional order directing all the mining lease holders to continue the release of water for drinking and irrigation requirements downstream as was regularly being done in the past.
“If they (leaseholders) object to do so, to show within seven days of the date of the order as to why the order should not be made absolute, to appear before the undersigned on April 2 at 11 am for the same,” the order stated.
“Failure to comply with the above directions the undersigned attracts criminal action under Section 188 of IPC,” the order added.
The iron ore mining activities in the State have come to standstill since March 16. Post this; the mining leaseholders have stopped pumping water for drinking and irrigation purposes.
For example, the Harvallem waterfall in Sattari has gone totally dry.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) via an order dated March 16, had directed all lease holders to continue pumping of water from mining leases for drinking, agriculture and horticulture purposes, while requesting the Water Resources Department not to claim any water cess on such pumping activity.
Department had said that stopping of pumping of water may deprive the villagers of regular supply of drinking water, which is required for basic human existence and to live with dignity, which is the fundamental right protected by highest court of justice.
