PANAJI: Iron ore transportation has once again led to increase in air pollution in the state’s mining belt. Air monitoring data with the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) shows that pollution in the areas is due to ore transportation activities, which commenced in March.
GSPCB member secretary Shamila Monteiro told TOI that the board has written to the directorate of mines and geology to reduce the number of ore transportation trips by trucks in areas where it has noticed air pollution. “As per the direction, DMG will reduce the mining truck trips,” she said.
GSPCB monitors air quality at 12 locations across the state through air ambient quality monitoring stations.
As per the report from the monitoring stations installed at Capxem, Sanvordem, Sanguem, Ambegal-Pale and Curchorem it has exceeded PM 10 limit.
A senior board officer told TOI that the PM 10 level exceeded the permissible limit due to vehicular transportation of ore.
Last week TOI had counted over 300 trips made by the mining trucks, over 10 times more than the number stipulated by DMG in the South Goa mining belt. And going by the sheer number of trucks making multiple trips to the jetties, a back of the envelope estimate suggests that in the past one week itself, an average of 35,000 tonne iron ore was sent for exports every day — a quantity equivalent to 18 to 20 barges.
In March 15, 2018, mining in Goa came to a halt following a Supreme Court order quashing the second renewal of 88 mining leases. In January 2020, the apex court permitted export of ore extracted before March 15, 2018.
In March 2020, mining companies resumed transportation of royalty-paid iron ore in the state. Around six mining companies got permission from both the DMG and GSPCB to transport ore.
There is 1.45 million tonne of royalty-paid ore which the respective companies have started transporting; there is also another 7.7 million tonne on which royalty has not been paid, an official said.
The state government is set to e-auction around 2.5 million tonne iron ore this month as per DMG.
GSPCB member secretary Shamila Monteiro told TOI that the board has written to the directorate of mines and geology to reduce the number of ore transportation trips by trucks in areas where it has noticed air pollution. “As per the direction, DMG will reduce the mining truck trips,” she said.
GSPCB monitors air quality at 12 locations across the state through air ambient quality monitoring stations.
As per the report from the monitoring stations installed at Capxem, Sanvordem, Sanguem, Ambegal-Pale and Curchorem it has exceeded PM 10 limit.
A senior board officer told TOI that the PM 10 level exceeded the permissible limit due to vehicular transportation of ore.
Last week TOI had counted over 300 trips made by the mining trucks, over 10 times more than the number stipulated by DMG in the South Goa mining belt. And going by the sheer number of trucks making multiple trips to the jetties, a back of the envelope estimate suggests that in the past one week itself, an average of 35,000 tonne iron ore was sent for exports every day — a quantity equivalent to 18 to 20 barges.
In March 15, 2018, mining in Goa came to a halt following a Supreme Court order quashing the second renewal of 88 mining leases. In January 2020, the apex court permitted export of ore extracted before March 15, 2018.
In March 2020, mining companies resumed transportation of royalty-paid iron ore in the state. Around six mining companies got permission from both the DMG and GSPCB to transport ore.
There is 1.45 million tonne of royalty-paid ore which the respective companies have started transporting; there is also another 7.7 million tonne on which royalty has not been paid, an official said.
The state government is set to e-auction around 2.5 million tonne iron ore this month as per DMG.
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