Several mining firms in Goa have challenged the authority of State Pollution Control Board to question them on the Environment Clearance (EC) issue, virtually demolishing the process to cross check the validity of ECs.
The problem began after the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had issued notices to more than half of Goa’s mines asking them to furnish their documents that were submitted during ECs granted to them by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
GSPCB Member Secretary, Mr Srinet Kothwale, told PTI that many of the mining firms have raised a point that since ECs are issued by (MoEF), it is for the Centre to deal with the issue.
Many of the 52 mining lease holders have said that State authorities don’t have right to prosecute or question them for documentation of EC.
The notices were issued to these mines after a NGO — Goa Foundation, approached the court stating that under 1994 notification, the ECs were valid only for five years.
Mr Kothwale said the board has heard all the mining firms and legal opinion would be sought on the matter.
“They say that any action or verification has to be done by the MoEF,” he said.
Goa has 90-odd mining leases, which tap around 54 million tonnes of ore from the State, which is mainly exported to China. The State is witnessing a debate on the mining industry as green activists have pointed out that EC conditions are violated and even wrong documents are given to get clearances.