Bombay HC restrains Sesa Goa's mining operations

Sesa Goa's iron ore mining operations at Advalpal village in the state were restrained through an interim order by Goa bench of Bombay High Court.

The division bench comprising of Justice S B Deshmukh and Justice U D Salvi on Thursday restrained the mining firm from going ahead with its phase 1 and phase 2 of its operations at Advalpal village.

The court was hearing the petition filed by nine-year-old Advalpal village boy Akash Naik through his mother Sharmila, together with NGO 'Goa Foundation' highlighting the grim future of a village due to dying resources.

The petitioner had stated that the village will neither have water nor paddy fields left, since the mining companies have destroyed all the nullahs and piling of sediments washed from the mining pits has destroyed the cultivable lands.

Norma Alvares, petitioner's advocate, arguing the case had said that Sesa Goa was indulged in unsafe mining practices, of which the locals had to face the brunt.

She brought to the notice of the court that petitioners had filed complaints first in March with the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) citing that reject was being illegally dumped along the steep slopes bounding the nullah adjoining the settlements. 

Alvares pointed out that IBM did not take any firm action against the mining company.

On June 6, this year, during the rains, the dumps collapsed and reject entered into paddy field and village was flooded.

The court adjourned the next hearing on October 8 to take on board the company's proposal to remove within specific time frame the illegal dumps it had created along Advalpal nullah.