TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board has declined to issue consent to operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to two mining firms since the case in pending before the Supreme Court.
The Boards order comes on applications filed by M S Talaulikar and Sons Pvt Ltd and G N Agarwal Mining and Export of Mineral ore and further, directions from the Administrative Tribunal which asked the Board to reconsider the application after giving a hearing to the appellant.
The Board had earlier rejected both the applications stating that the MoEF had rejected the environmental clearances of both the mining leases, an order which was challenged before the Administrative Tribunal.
After hearing the applicants afresh, GSPCB has ruled that the applicants will have to file fresh applications once the writ petition filed before Supreme Court.
However the Board rejected the applications quoting a decision taken in its 105th meeting held on November 1, which read ~After deliberation and in the light of the order passed by the Supreme Court, the Board Members decided that the mining companies be informed that the application could not be processed at this stage and they should apply for consent to operate once the order of the Hon. Supreme Court is revoked.
“In the light of the aforestated decision of the Board… I hereby decide that the mining company… be informed that the application for grant of renewal of consent to operated cannot be processed… and that they apply for consent to operate as and when WP No 435/2012, before the Supreme Court of India is resolved,” the two orders issued separately to both the firms read.
