Green raps on 45 Goa mining leases

Forty five mining leases are expected to file their affidavits in response to show cause notices issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board for operating without environmental leases, this week.

The Panaji bench of Bombay High Court, on Nov 3 had passed directions in response to a petition filed by an environmental NGO.

The notices returnable by Nov 18 has asked the mining companies as to why their consent to operate should not be withdrawn and mining operations on the leases suspended.

NGO Goa Foundation sought the Court's directions for closing the mines operations, had said in its petition that the Union government had imposed 'moratorium' against the 45 mining companies located in Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda, Sanguem and Quepem talukas, in February 2010.

The NGO had also submitted the mining companies, which were issued environmental clearances between 2006 and 2006, were approved under the 1994 notification with five year expiry date.

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