Panaji (Goa): The fate of 12 mining leases at Sonshi would be decided tomorrow when Goa State Pollution Control Board meets.

The GSPCB has called for a meeting on Friday (tomorrow) to decide the fate of all the 12 mining leases, which are currently suspended. The board had asked these mining firms to furnish a bank surety which could be forfeited if they cause pollution.

“If the mining firms fail to furnish the bank guarantee in the meeting scheduled tomorrow, they will not be allowed to operate. Since the mining season ends on May 31, we will have to take up their matter only after the monsoon when new season begins,” a senior GSPCB official told TNV.

The mining operations in Sonshi has been shut since April 28 after the lease holders were found to be involved in violation of pollution norms.

The official said that the guarantee amount will be based on the area of the lease. “It is most likely to be Rs 50 lakh for mining leases that have area above 100 hectares; Rs 25 lakh for mining lease with area between 50 and 100 hectares and Rs 12.5 lakh for mining lease area below 50 hectares,” he said.

“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.

Meanwhile, Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) has rubbished media reports about air quality monitoring equipment have been manipulated by the mining companies.

The GMOEA refutes such baseless allegations directed at the industry and states on record that the information is incorrect and misleading.

“As an industry body, we wish to clarify that the equipments used by the mining companies are compliant and strictly meet the guidelines as mentioned by the various regulatory authorities,” GMOEA has said in a press note.

In addition, it may also be noted that the mining companies have allowed access to the GSPCB to assess and monitor all the equipment that have been installed for checks on environmental norms, the press note adds.

Team TNV