From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Aug 1: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will be issuing notices to 35 out of 100 odd mines all across the state asking them to suspend their operations immediately.

GSPCB chairman Simon De Souza said that the mines had failed to get the consent under air and water Pollution control act. They will have to stop their operations immediately after receiving the order, he said.

The Bombay High court at Goa had recently asked GSPCB to suspend operations of these mines which are working without getting consen under the act. The closure of these mines would be a major setback for the iron ore export trade.

Goa exported 54 million metric tones of ore during last financial year collecting royalty of Rs 900 crore. De Souza said that GSPCB does not have manpower to verify whether the mines have stopped the operations after issuing notices. ''But if they disobey notices than they will be facing contempt of High court,'' he added.

Several mines which are operating around wildlife sanctuaries and forest areas have not been given clearance by forest department, which is mandatory to get the consent under the air and water pollution act. Forest department officials have said that the NOC for these mines can be given only after deciding on the buffer zone around wildlife sanctuaries and forest areas.

Principal Additional chief Conservator of Forest Dr Shashi Kumar has written to the state government stating that the department will have to refer these mining cases to the National Wildlife Board under Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) before granting them NOC.