Indian magazine, Herald Publications, has reported that notwithstanding the Supreme Court ban on mining within a one km radius of Protected Areas in Goa, the Environment Ministry has given the nod for a mining lease to three private firms situated near a wildlife sanctuary in Goa.
Accepting the State forest officials' contention that the firms have been mining iron ore since Portuguese times, the ministry allowed V M Salgaocar and Brothers Pvt Ltd, Hede Groups and Achuta V S Velingkar to continue with mining near the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
In case of Salgaocar firm the mining was 550 metres away from the boundary of the sanctuary and had about 49.735 hectares of forest land partly broken for mining. It had proposed to break further 8.627 hectares of area for mining.
Hede had sought mining in land located about 650 metres away from the boundary of the sanctuary and the Mollem National Park. This involved the felling of 2128 trees of different species in 9 hectares of land which is proposed to be broken for mining.
In the third case, the mining site is at a distance of 160 to 400 metres from the boundary of the park.
Sources told PTI that at a recent meeting the National Board for Wildlif turned down their pleas to mine in the new land as it was within a one km radius of the protected area famous for its snakes, particularly the king cobra. The Chief Wildlife Warden of Goa while seeking approval of lease agreements had argued that all the proposals were old leases from Portuguese times and mining operators had taken all due care in the past not to cause any negative impact on the environment.
Source: Steel Guru
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