PANAJI: The pollution board has decided to grant consent to six mining leases to operate from
Sonshi cluster. At the last board meeting, the pollution board had decided to drop showcause notices issued to mining leases in Sonshi cluster that paved the way for the consent to be granted.
In April, after TOI highlighted how Sonshi villagers were covered in red dust and preferred jails to their homes, the board had put a halt to mining by refusing permission to 12 of the 13 leases to operate.
At least 45 Sonshi villagers were arrested for stopping mining transportation after petitions by them on excessive pollution didn't evoke any response from government authorities.
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