PANAJI
Following directions from the High Court, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will approach the State government with a proposal to conduct road carrying capacity of the iron ore transportation routes across the State.
During its recent Board meeting, GSPCB resolved to write to the government seeking permission to a scientific institution for conducting the road carrying capacity of each village route in the mining belt.
The Board also intends to install air monitoring equipment along the routes to track the pollution level at the time of ore transportation. The Board has already moved a proposal to the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) for installation of automatic real time ambient air quality monitoring instruments across nine locations – Bicholim, Mayem, Assonora, Sanquelim, Honda, Amona, Velguem and Pale covering the areas, where the mineral blocks are auctioned.
The transportation of e-auction ore is currently underway, while the fresh ore extraction is yet to commence. Of the total nine mineral blocks auctioned by the State, the mineral block at Bicholim has commenced its operation.
The Bombay High Court at Goa in an order issued in July, had directed the GSPCB and Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) to evaluate the carrying capacity of each village route depending on its length. The report must also compile information regarding the number of houses, small settlements, schools, institutions and population that persist along these routes.
The Court had also said that pending carrying capacity study, the Board and DMG must supervise the trucks on each route instantaneously. It had also asked to install CCTVs to DVR devices at panchayat ghars, public school to supervise.
