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)
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Govt encouraging illegal mining, say activists
PANJIM: Activists across the board have scoffed at the Government decision to halt all mining activity till action is taken against all, saying that the decision to shut mining, but allowing transportation of ore in transit was encouraging illegal mining. Leading the war cries Ramesh Gauns, punched holes in Parrikar’s decision and said that the Government should seize the collected ore and auction it as part of measures to recover the money.
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Rs 150 cr boost for Goa’s tourism
PANJIM: Union Tourism Ministry has come to Goa’s rescue by expressing its willingness to fund the development of tourism infrastructure upto Rs 150 crore, subject to fund utilization and has called on the State to determine its activities according to its carrying capacity. Union Secretary for Tourism, R H Kwaja announced this at a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar and other officials on Tuesday.
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‘Govt reluctant to declare Mhadei as ‘tiger reserve’ to protect mining’
PANJIM: Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar on Monday alleged that inspite of Union Ministry pressing for a proposal to declare Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as ‘tiger reserve’, Goa government is reluctant in moving the proposal, which will lead to the closure of several mines, operating around the sanctuary. Addressing a meeting called by Citizen Action Group over Justice M B Shah Commission report on illegal mining, Kerkar said that State government, for years, has been giving several reasons for not declaring the sanctuary as tiger reserve.
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Greens rejoice, hail move
PANJIM: Environmental activists, who for last several years had been crying foul over illegal mining in Goa, have welcomed the Government’s historic move to suspend mining operations in all 90 mining leases with effect from Tuesday. The activists, who had gathered under the banner ‘Citizens Action Group’ on Monday in Panjim, had demanded suspension of all mining leases termed illegal in the Justice M B Shah Commission report.
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Central officials begin inspection of mines
PANJIM: Even as Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar threw down a gauntlet to Indian Bureau of Mines to close mines in Goa, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) officials began inspection of mining leases in Goa, on Wednesday, ahead of Minister Jayanti Natarajan’s visit to the state next week. Sources stated that eight officials, four from MoEF and four from Central Pollution Control Board are down in Ponda and have begun inspection of mines to verify whether mining dumps are being handled by mining lease holders without obtaining environment clearances (ECs).
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Parrikar stamps his authority to give mining lobby a break of Rs 1,500 cr
PANJIM: In a little noticed move, the addition of just two paragraphs in The Indian Stamp Goa Amendment Act 2012 ~ moved as an amendment on the last day of the recently ended Monsoon Session of the Goa
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MoEF orders inspection of mining dumps
PANJIM: Tightening the screws on illegal mining operations, Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) has ordered an inspection to ascertain whether dumps mining is taking place in Goa without obtaining environment clearances (ECs), in the wake of complaints that dump handling activity is being carried out without obtaining ECs. Goa Foundation and environmentalist Ramesh Gawas had lodged two different complaints with Directorate of Mines and Geology and Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) stating that Sesa Goa is involved in handling of dumps at its mining sites at Sankhalim and Sattari.
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Panjim wastes 12,000m3 water daily
PANJIM: At a time when every single drop of water has been termed as precious by the state government, which aims to provide 24x7 supply, up to 12,000 cubic meters (or 12 MLD) of water treated at the sewerage plant at Tonca is flushed out into River Mandovi every single day. The water is so clean that just one tertiary unit more of treatment at the plant would make it fit to drink by even Singapore standards. But as it is, the water is waiting to be used at least for gardening, washing and other such purposes. Except that the authorities prefer to, literally, just flush it down the river.
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Mopa farmers object to land acquisition
PANJIM: Weary farmers who face the ominous prospect of losing their land and livelihood marched to register their objections with Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO) for Mopa, following a High Court directive earlier. The objections come after SLAO sent a notice to the affected farmers who are likely to lose their land in view of the land acquisition process for the upcoming greenfield Mopa International Airport asking them that if they had any objections to the process they should send it to the office of SLAO before September 9.
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30 leases to be considered for signing mining agreement
PANJIM: Thirty mining leases which have secured Environmental Clearances (ECs) from Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), which are non operational, will be considered for signing lease agreement with the State government ahead of notification of Indian Stamp (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2012. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar while speaking to Herald on Monday pointed out that there are around 337 mining leases granted by Goa Government to various parties, however, approximately 120 mining leases have ECs and have applied for renewal or extension of the mining leases for further term of 20 years.