PANAJI (GOA) The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Wednesday deferred the decision to grant consent to operate to 12 mining leases in Sonshi village, where the iron ore activities are stopped since April.

However, the board decided to drop the show-cause notices issued to these iron ore leases on technical ground.

The GSPCB meeting resolved to drop the show cause notices issued to all 12 mining leases, which were caught in controversy for access pollution in the village.

“The Board has decided to drop the show cause notices issued to 12 mining leases in April. The notices were issues asking why the consent to operate granted to them under Air and Water Act should not be revoked for violation of conditions of the consent. However, the validity of the consent expired in the month of May and hence there is no question of them having Consent to operate,” sources said.

Board is yet to take decision on granting them fresh consent under Air and Water Act.