Panaji (Goa): Coming down heavily on the iron ore mining companies following the dust pollution crisis at Sonshi village, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has asked the lease holders, wanting to commence the activities to submit bank guarantee assuring ‘No Pollution’ before granting them Consent to Operate under Air and Water pollution Act.

The GSPCB that met on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma to decide on whether to grant consent to operate to 39 mining leases, including 12 leases in Sonshi village.

The decision in regards to mining in Sonshi village is been deferred further, as the Chairman is not satisfied with the measures initiated to curb dust pollution in the locality. Mining at Sonshi is been shut since April 28 after it the lease holders were found to be involved in violation of pollution norms.

The meeting also deferred the decision in regards to mining leases in Sonshi village, wherein the Board was asked to further monitor the ambient air quality in the village.

The guarantee amount is to be based on the area of the lease. It is most likely to be Rs 50 lakhs for mining leases area who have above 100 hectares, Rs 25 lakhs for mining lease area between 50 hectares and 100 hectares and Rs 12.5 lakhs for mining lease area below 50 hectares.

GSPCB member secretary Levinson Martins said that the Consent to operate would be granted only after they produce bank guarantee and the Board is satisfy with the measures initiated by the firms to mitigate dust pollution.

“If lease holder fails to control the air and water pollution in the vicinity, the bank guarantee will be seized by the Board,” he said.

Martins said that with the ongoing mining season nearing to end (May 31), it is now for those 39 lease holders to decide, whether they want to produce bank guarantee now or when the new season resumes in October.

Team TNV