PANAJI
Amid demands from locals to exclude religious structures and houses from areas leased for iron ore mining, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has started inspections to demarcate buffer zones around the e-auctioned mineral blocks, aiming to prevent successful bidders from carrying out any excavation within the zone.
DMG has already obtained an undertaking from Salgaocar Shipping Pvt Ltd -- owner of Sirigao-Mayem Mineral block II -- stating that it will not undertake any excavation work within the buffer zone of 150 meters from the outer compound wall of Shree Lairai Devi temple and 50 meters from the last house located within the mineral block.
Speaking to The Goan, Director Mines Narayan Gad said the Department has initiated a survey to identify all religious structures and houses that are located within the auctioned mineral blocks. “Once the survey is completed, we will demarcate a buffer zone banning excavation work. An undertaking will be signed by mining companies that they will not do any excavation work till the end of lease period,” he said.
The government has auctioned a total of three mineral blocks in Bicholim taluka- Bicholim -- Mulgao mining block, Shirigao-Mayem mining block and Monte-de-Sirigao mining block. The successful bidders include Vedanta Limited, Salgaocar Shipping and NS Bandekar.
According to locals, while at Bicholim-Mulgao mining block there are 18 temples including the famous Shri Lairai Devi, 400 houses, commercial structures and water bodies, in Shirigao-Mayem lease area there are 230 houses, 14 temples, 4 schools and 3 lakes.
“We are in the process of identifying all the structures in these three mineral blocks in the first phase,” Gad said.
Director informed that the successful bidders have obtained all the required permissions including the Environmental Clearance (ECs) for the commencement of mining operations.
The principal deity of the Shri Devi Lairai Temple through the president of the Shri Devi Lairai Temple Trust and by the villagers of Sirigao had moved High Court challenging the government decision to go ahead with e-auction of Mineral Blocks I, II and III in Sirigao village without excluding the temples and houses.
The petitioner had said that the village settlement including the Devi Lairai temple, homes, schools, and fields are all included within the boundaries of the mining blocks auctioned. It says that the government when deciding on the boundaries of mining blocks did not apply its mind nor consider the unmitigated havoc caused by the mining operations on the erstwhile mining leases.
The State government, thereafter had assured the Court that an affidavit would be signed by the mining companies assuring not to undertake any excavation work within the buffer areas of these structures.
