Govt assures a new CZMP with people’s views
Plan to be drafted by Environment Department in consultation with CZMA, GSPCB, scientists PORVORIM: In a major victory to the people, the State government on Tuesday announced it woud draft a fresh
Herald (Panjim)
-
Malaria on the rise in Goa
PANJIM: Goa has registered 935 malaria cases upto August this year, which are the highest recorded in the last five years, and 194 cases more than last year. In 2011, the state had 741 registered cases of malaria, over the same period. Directorate of Health Services statistics reveal that July and August 2012 were the worst months during which 309 and 145 cases of malaria were contracted respectively, leading to the high figures.
-
‘Enforce PCB order on Vasco pollution’
VASCO: Hailing the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) order on coal dust pollution from Berths 10 and 11 at MPT, residents have said the order should be implemented immediately in the interest of people residing in the port town. “Coal rejected at other ports found its way in Vasco as people were not united and no one took the issue seriously. Now, the GSPCB should strictly enforce the order,” said Vasco-based Advocate T Shridharan.
-
Parliament Estimates Panel to discuss mining issue: MP
MARGAO: Asserting there should be no place for illegal mining in Goa, South Goa MP on Monday said he would soon convene a meeting of the Parliament Estimates Committee to discuss the mining issue plaguing the state. “As Chairman of the Parliament’s Estimates Committee, I would convene a meeting of the Committee to discuss the Goa mining issue to find out a solution to the problem”, he said, while calling for a stop to mining in the forest area.
-
Health department staff to be trained to enforce smoking ban
PANJIM: Staff of health department will be trained to implement the Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), whose provisions ban smoking in public places, as part of measures to effectively implement the Act in Goa. The move suggested during a brainstorming session of a workshop on ‘Tobacco Control and the role of enforcement agencies’ organised by the Voluntary Health Association of Goa, VHAG recently also suggests making police more proactive in enforcing the no smoking law in Goa. The health officers along with the state nodal officer and the member secretary (of tobacco control) suggested that they train their own staff on how to implement the Act.
-
Govt borrows Rs 200 cr to improve infrastructure
PANJIM: Two days ago, the Manohar Parrikar government went for Rs 200 crore market borrowing, which it says would be utilized for infrastructure development and social sector schemes. The borrowing
-
All mines in Selaulim area to be shut
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar plans to shut down all the mines falling in the catchment area of Selaulim water reservoir, HERALD has learnt. The Government has already identified 19 such mines which are polluting the water of the Selaulim reservoir. Ramesh Gawas, one of the social activists leading the fight against illegal mining, points out that 55 per cent of the Goan population drinks water coming from the Selaulim water treatment plant and majority of those who drink this water live in Salcete and Mormugao Talukas, with 32 per cent of this polluted water being consumed in Salcete alone. Talking to HCN, Gawas said even the Parrikar Government’s reply in the recent Assembly Session admitted that manganese content in Selaulim water is 3.5 mg, which is three times more than the permissible limit.
-
Radharao calls for moratorium on mining
PANJIM: Even as preoccupation with Ganesh festivities has led to simmering of the angst against the illegal mining scam, the people’s demand for action against the miners has refused to die down. Advocate Radharao Gracias, while speaking to Herald, has strongly recommended a moratorium on mining suggesting a mining plan on the lines of Goa’s Regional Plan for sustainable development.
-
Forest permits of 7 mines withdrawn
PANJIM: The Forest Department has started the process of revoking wildlife clearances granted in forest areas and has so far withdrawn such clearances granted to seven mines operating within 10 kilometers of the boundaries of wildlife sanctuaries. Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Richard D’Souza told a representation led by Dr Claude Alvares in the presence of media on Tuesday here, that the secretary of forests, has revoked six wildlife clearances, whereas permissions of remaining 36 mines will be withdrawn when environmental clearance (ECs) are received from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).
-
Allow legal mines to operate: Khalap
PANJIM: Former deputy chief minister Ramakant Khalap has called upon the government to allow mines ‘covered by valid leases’ to operate and to subdivide the rest into blocks of suitable sizes and auctioned them to the highest bidder. "In my opinion all mines not covered by valid leases, must be taken over by the government and sub-divided into blocks of suitable sizes and auctioned to the highest bidder. Rest of the mines covered by valid leases must be allowed to operate in the interest of a large section of our people whose livelihood depends on this business,” Khalap said in a letter addressed to Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo.
-
MoEF puts 46 mining companies on a leash
PANJIM: Tightening the screws on the state government for its seemingly belligerent attitude on mining dumps, the Ministry of Environments and Forests (MoEF) has issued show cause notices to 46 companies for mining from low grade iron ore /reject dumps in the State. The 46 mining companies have been issued show cause notices for allegedly violating provisions of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2006. The notices dated September 9, 2012 and issued under section 5 of Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1986, have to be replied to within 15 days stating why environmental clearances (ECs) granted to them should not be revoked, and direction for their closure not be issued under the Environment Protection Act