Amended noise action plan of Goa
Goa government has notified the ‘Amended Noise Action Plan’ to purportedly streamline the processes related to curbing noise pollution in the state, as specified before the High Court on April 30. The
Goa
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Govt will compensate for land acquisition based on Central Act, says Francis
PANJIM: Revenue Minister, Francis D’Souza Thursday assured Goa Legislative Assembly Thursday that the Government would pay compensation for land acquisition based on the Central Act and drop land acquisitions which they feel are not in public interest. “There will be no compromise on paying compensation. What has to be given will be given,” D’Souza stated while replying to a supplementary question posed by Opposition Leader Pratapsing Rane during Question Hour .
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Vijai accuses CM of U-turn on mining
PANJIM: Independent legislator Vijai Sardesai on Thursday accused Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of soft peddling the issues related to the mining industry in the state, which have gained gigantic proportion at the cost of the environment. Speaking on the motion of thanks to Governor’s address moved by Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo, Sardesai said that ‘there is wholesale U-turn by the State Government on the issue of mining.’
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Sesa Goa to shut down two plants
Panaji Sesa Goa Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta group, has decided to shut down operation of its two plants in Goa owing to scarcity of iron ore supply as the transportation of ore has been banned due to monsoons. The closure is imminent within next 24 hours as the raw material stocks of iron ore are running dry, a company spokesman here said. The Pig Iron Plant (PIP) and metallurgical coke plant situated in Amona village of Bicholim taluka are slated to be shut down and feared to affect 1,200 employees working in both the industries.
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Goa panel for 20-25 mt cap on iron ore extraction
A committee of experts constituted by the Goa Government has recommended a cap on extraction of iron ore in the coastal state to 20-25 million tonnes (mt), which is almost half the existing exports.
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Barge owners in dire straits after clampdown on illegal mining: GBOA
VASCO: Goa Barge Owners Association President Atul Jadav stated that Goa Barge owners are in deep financial crisis, following a clamp down on illegal mining and a ban on export of dumps. Addressing a press conference in Vasco, Jadav said the quantum of exports dropped from 54.45 million tonnes in 2010-11 to 42.0 million tonnes in 2011-12. “Number of trips by individual barges, owned by private entrepreneurs, fell from 123 on an average during 2010-11 to about 60 trips during 2011-12. In order to break even, a barge should make at least 100 trips a month,” said Jadav.
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Draft mining policy to be tabled in assembly session: CM
PANJIM: Government will table the draft mining policy during the forthcoming Goa Legislative Assembly’s monsoon session which commences Thursday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar disclosed. Briefing Herald, Parrikar said that the process of formulating the draft policy is almost complete by eliciting inputs from various departments linked with the mining industry. “The inputs will be drafted as a policy and will be tabled on the floor of the House,” Parrikar informed. He elaborated that each department which is concerned with the mining industry has been asked to give their inputs, which would be included in the draft document.
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30 applications for diversion of forest land for mining kept on hold
PANJIM: Over 30 applications for diversion of forest land for mining have been received by the Forest Department since 2011, which have been kept on hold, in the absence of State Forest Policy 2011. Former Forest Minister, Filipe Neri Rodrigues had, announced that no fresh applications for diversion of forest lands for mining would be considered by his department till a new Forest Policy for the state is framed.
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Goa 2035: vision and road map
This Goa Vision 2035 document provides the roadmap for the next 25 years for all around development and growth of the state. It recommends closure of all mines extracting ore beyond the permissible limit set under the Environment Clearance.
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Vision Document for afforestation finalised
PANJIM: A ‘Vision Document’ detailing spending of money and priorities under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management Authority (CAMPA), for next ten years, has been finalized by state government, which will decide the way forward for this centrally funded project. The document prepared by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), a body of environmental experts, was placed before Steering Committee on CAMPA headed by Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava, which met recently.
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Damaged pipeline causes water contamination in Panjim
PANJIM: A minor puncture in the water distribution line, along 18 June road, has caused water contamination for the second time in Panjim city. Public Works Department (PWD) staff swung into action immediately on Monday morning to plug the damaged pipeline through which dirty water had begun flowing through the distribution lines. According to Superintending Engineer K Shrikant, the water line had been damaged by some agencies while digging the road for underground utility services.