Team Herald
PONDA/CURCHOREM: Vedanta Wednesday abandoned its attempt to transport iron ore from its Codli mine to its pig iron plant at Amona after the people from Dharbandora and sarpanchas from the taluka threatened to come on road protesting the same.
This is the second time in July that iron ore transportation by Vedanta has been stopped by the locals. In the first incident, tension gripped Dharbandora after locals blocked transportation of ore by Vedanta, on July 14.
Meanwhile, on being informed of Vedanta’s attempt to transport ore allegedly in violation of monsoon ban, Dharbandora Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes ordered the company to comply with the June 27 directions of Mines Department, banning surface transportation of ore during monsoons.
According to Fernandes, the residents from Dharbandora protested and stopped the mining transportation by the company during monsoon.
“I immediately convened a meeting of the villagers and the company to examine the issue. At the meeting, the Dharbandora sarpanch stated that during the meeting held on June 18 at the collector’s office, no permission was granted by the government to start the mining transport during the rainy season,” Fernandes said.
He also informed that the matter was placed before the Dharbandora gram sabha on June 17 and the people had taken a resolution that mining transportation should not be started during monsoon as per the notification issued by the Directorate of Mines and Geology and that the government should not change the notification at any cost, otherwise people would be forced to take law into their hands in the interest of public safety.
At the Wednesday’s meeting, the mining company informed that they have obtained relaxation from the Directorate of Mines and a copy of the letter was produced before deputy collector stating that the Order dated June 27 shall not be treated to be violated, if the material from Amona jetty is utilized for the pig iron plant.
After hearing all the parties, Fernandes passed an order stating that there was nothing on record to allow Vedanta to transport ore, as a plain reading of the letter addressed to the company does not show any relaxation.
Meanwhile, the locals in mining belt have expressed strong resentment over mines department’s policy of giving relaxation to its own order resulting in unnecessary controversy.
