-- Samir Umarye
*PANJIM/BICHOLIM* The Mines and Geology department on Saturday issued notices to five mines in Bicholim taluka asking them to produce their permission under Air and Water Pollution Act, failing which they would be asked to shut their operations. Sources said the mines department acted after Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) sought the suspension of operations in the absence of consent under Air and Water Pollution Act. Sources added that the IBM team had inspected 15 mines after the Mulgao mining mishap and found that five mines at Shirgao, Mulgao and Lamgao in Bicholim taluka did not have the mandatory consent. IBM immediately asked the Mines and Geology department to shut down these mining sites. When contacted, mines department officials confirmed having issued the orders asking the mine managements to respond with the required documents. The five mines are among several mines operating without air and water consent and whose names had figured during the recent High Court order. Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had not renewed their permission under Air and Water Pollution Act in the absence of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from forest authorities. GSPCB had assured the High Court that they will issue notices to these mines. The recent accident at Mulgao had inundated several paddy fields and also affected the horticulture plantation. Locals had demanded the closure of the mine till they come out with proper precautionary measures. As per the list placed before the high court, the Mulgao mine has been operating without consent under Air and Water pollution act since 2009. The company spokesman had admitted that their application for the consent is under process. Meanwhile in Bicholim, panic was spread over reports that the five mines had been asked to shut down operations. A large number of families all over Bicholim taluka directly or indirectly depend on mining activities and this news spread like wildfire, with many frantic truck operators seeking the intervention of politicians to resolve the issue. According to environmentalist Ramesh Gawas, mining activities cover an area of around 500 hectares in the taluka. "Mines should operate with proper environmental clearance, but most of these mines violated all these rules for a long time" Gawas said. When contacted, Bicholim Deputy Mayor Shashikant Naik Harlankar stated that any attempt to stop mining operations in Bicholim taluka would severely affect hundreds of families in the area.
