GSPCB refuses relief to mines causing pollution

In the wake of protests by locals, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided to continue with the suspension of mining activity in Sonshi village of Sattari taluka till May 13.
The GSPCB which met today to decide the fate of mining leases decided to extend the suspension of these 12 mining leases till May 13.
A mining firm has to take the Consent to Operate under Air (preservation and control of pollution) Act.
"The situation will remain as it is till May 13. We have deferred the meeting till that date," GSPCB chairman Dharmendra Sharma told reporters.

The mining activities at Sonshi were shutdown since April 28, after GSPCB declined to grant consent to operate to 12 out of 13 mining leases there after it observed that the lease holders are involved in dust pollution in the vicinity.
The Board has recently installed a full-fledged ambient air monitoring station at Sonshi.
Around 45 locals were arrested last month after they protested against pollution by these mining firms.