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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Velim villagers hit the streets against Cutbona project
Demand scrapping of land acquisition MARGAO: Velim villagers took to the streets on Sunday demanding immediate scrapping of the land acquisition proceedings for the Cutbona fishing harbour project. Armed with placards and banners, hundreds of men and women participated in a protest rally that wend its way from Velim to neighbouring Assolna village with the villagers calling upon the government to respect the their sentiments by scrapping the land acquisition process and not to convert Cutbona into an industrial zone.
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No plans to issue new mining leases: Parrikar
MARGAO: Asserting that his government has no plans to issue new mining leases, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said he has not put a cap on mining activity and left it for the people to take a call on the issue. “As far as our policy is concerned, no new leases should be given for mining. But, I also believe that all natural resources should be auctioned. The government has not decided to give any new mining lease. When the policy is in place and if there is a proposal for new mining leases, they will be definitely auctioned,” he said.
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Hazardous waste lying abandoned for years at Cuncolim Industrial Estate
In the light of careless handling of hazardous material by private companies at Cuncolim Industrial Estate, the government has been forced to step in and work out a solution. But shouldn’t stringent environmental safeguards be built into the industrial and investment policies to arrest fly-by-night operators, asks Guilherme Almeida MARGAO: A whopping 25,000 tons of hazardous waste generated by Sunrise Zinc Ltd is ticking like a time bomb at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate and neither the present firm occupying the plot- the Axis, nor the State Bank of India has cared to act responsibly in disposing off the waste, with the result that the Goa State Industrial Development Corporation (GSIDC)
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Velim forum against land acquisition for Cutbona jetty
MARGAO: The Velim Civic and Consumer Forum on Friday lodged its strong objection to the acquisition of land admeasuring 30,000 sq mts for the Cutbona project. In her objection filed before the Land Acquisition Officer, Forum secretary Ramona Almeida said the VCCF joins the people of Velim in their demand for scrapping of the eco-sensitive khazan farm lands at Cutbona, which seeks to favour a few.
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Mining lease holders oppose govt move to regulate barge movement via GBOA
PANJIM: Goa government’s plan to regulate the movement of barges in the State through Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) has met with hurdles as mining lease holders have opposed the move. Directorate of Mines and Geology through an order, earlier this month, had directed all the barge owners to register themselves with GBOA and Directorate of Mines and Geology by August 27, failing which they would not be allowed to ply. However, the directives have met with difficulties as mining lease holders, who own the vessels voiced their own difficulties in implementing the order.
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Pollution board pulls up MPT for coal handling operations
PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in a stringent order has issued a show cause notice to the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) warning it to shut down their coal handling operations for failing to adhere to the board’s directives. GSPCB Member Secretary Levinson Martins has, in an order issued on Wednesday, asked MPT to show cause why the order of consent to operate as issued to it by the GSPCB under the Air Act and the Water Act should not be revoked and as to why legal action as stipulated under the act should not be initiated against the management of the port for carrying out coal handling by violating directives.
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Two Sanguem mines directed to shut shop
PANJIM: In a major development, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has directed two mines operating within 10 kms of the Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary in Sanguem taluka to shut down operations with immediate effect for failing to get clearance from the National Wildlife Board. The orders have been issued on August 13 to two mining leases operated by – Gangadhar Narsinghdas Agrawal and Pandurang Timblo Industries, under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
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LAO plays truant at land acquisition hearing
MARGAO: The Land Acquisition Officer, Margao played truant as farmers and local citizens from Velim turned up for hearing on the land acquisition for the Cutbona fisheries project on Wednesday. When the farmers made their presence felt at the office of the LA officer in the district Collectorate, they found to their shock the Land Acquisition Officer, Shagun Velip absent. As a result, officials attached to the Land Acquisition office adjourned the matter by fixing the hearing on September 13.
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MPDA directs Bogda firm to raze tanks, remove sulphuric acid
VASCO: In a significant decision, the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) has directed Ganesh Benzoplast Ltd at Sada Bogda to demolish the tanks and to remove hazardous storage of sulphuric acid and furnace oil from its premises within seven days. In a notice dated August 27, the MPDA directed the company to comply with the directives, failing which the MPDA will demolish the structures and recover the cost from the company.
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Mines dept inspects Sesa mining site at Sanquelim
PANJIM: Directorate of Mines and Geology on Tuesday conducted inspection of a Sesa Goa mining site at Sanquelim after environmentalist Ramesh Gawas complained to them about handling of dumps at this mine. Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya said the inspection revealed that the dumps have not been moved out of the mining lease but instead were shifted within the lease area, which is allowed and that there is no illegality found during the inspection.