Ramesh Gauns an activist and resident of Sarvona in Vathadev village of Bicholim taluka took his fight to the Delhi High Court after the National Environmental Appellate Authority dismissed his appeal against a firm for undertaking mining activity at Sarvona.
M/s Zantye & Co. Pvt. Ltd. holding the lease to mine the 72-hectare Sarvona Iron and Manganese Ore Mine, applied for renewal, and for a change of mining method which would increase their iron ore production to 0.302 million tons per year at their Sarvona mine. They were given clearance by the Central Ministry in 2007.
This clearance was challenged Gauns before the National Environmental Appellate Authority saying that the environment impact assessment was faulty and there was strong opposition from the public, approval from the panchayat was not obtained, and pollution was being caused to the Bicholim river, aquifers and fields.The Appellate Authority dismissed his appeal. Gauns then approached the Delhi High Court against the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The Delhi High Court agreed with Gauns' argument that the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the ministry did not take into consideration the objections of the locals. It merely said that the 'issues raised by the public during the public hearing were taken note of by the EAC.The High Court set aside the clearance and noted that any fresh consideration of the project should be subject to the moratorium set by the Government of India on new mining proposals in the State.
While the case was being fought in Delhi, the Goa State Pollution Control Board, suspended operations in the Sarvona mine in May 2011. The suspension order against the Sarvona mine also directed the mine not to commence any mining or developmental activity at the site without obtaining valid consent to operate from the board as required under Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Read the full report here.
Source: Target Goa.
