Villagers’ protest shuts down illegal mine in Goa
Panaji : Goa authorities were forced to shut down illegal mine in South Goa after several hundred tribals walked in protest in the capital city on Tuesday.
In a late night order, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) ordered to stop operations of M/s Devpan ou Devadongor Iron and Manganese Pvt Ltd mine at Caurem village, as it failed to comply with the air and water pollution norms.
As many as 150 tribals under the banner ?Caurem Adivasi Bachao Samiti? first met Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and later held day long protest outside GSPCB office.
The intense agitation forced the mines director Arvind Lolienkar to sign an order asking the Caulem mine owner to shift the machinery immediately.
?We were compelled to come on the streets as the mining lease which was inactive over the years was revived couple of months back, against all norms. The mining activity will destroy the mountain and the rich habitation in the village,? said one of the agitating members.
The members claim that they worship the mountain and don?t dare to even pluck a leaf from the mountain.
The government officials earlier assured to take action against the mining company but the protestors refused to move after which the mines director was forced to sign an order asking to shut down the mine company.
Goa exports around 40 million metric tonnes of ore annually from its major ports even as the environmentalists have constantly raised concerns on the increasing mining here.
The state has 100-odd working mining leases and equal number of illegal mine sites operating, which was also pointed out in the Comptroller and Auditor General Report.
(IBNS)