IANS

Panaji, Sep 9: More than a week after the deadline issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for submission of documentation from 78 mining companies, the board is still "not sure" about the number of companies who have complied with the notice, indicating that its proposed action against illegal mining may have hit a trough.

"We are still in the process of compiling the number of replies received. We do not know exactly how many companies have responded," GSPCB chairman Simon D'Souza told IANS.

The notice issued by the GSPCB on Aug 14 had directed 78 mining lease operators to submit copies of their clearances obtained under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) and from the Ministry for Environment and Forests within 15 days.

"The compilation may take some time. If some mining companies do not have proper documentation, we will be forced to issue a show cause notice and subsequently ask the mines to stop operations," D'Souza said.

Apart from the 78 mines in question, the GSPCB had also issued 'stop work' orders to 13 other mines who were extracting ore without requisite permissions from the forest and wildlife departments.

While Sesa Goa has managed to obtain a stay on the 'stop work' order from the administrative tribunal for its Codli mine in south Goa, three mining concerns operated by Dempo group of companies (now a part of Sesa Goa) among others have also approached the tribunal for a stay on the GSPCB's order.

The hearing has been scheduled for Thursday.

Goa's 103 mining leases extract 33 million tonnes of iron, bauxite and manganese ore which is exported largely to China and Japan.

Environmentalists and the opposition in Goa have alleged that nearly 18 percent of the ore exported from Goa was extracted by illegal mining outfits.

Under sustained pressure, the state government has now brought 91 out of the 103 operating mines in the state under its scanner.