PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has allowed ore handlers to remove the remaining ore at the Kalay Railway Station, but ruled that no further ore shall be be shipped via the Kalay railway station unless they have permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary within which the railway station falls.
The High Court which is hearing a plea filed by an NGO against the handling of iron ore within the sanctuary without the permission of the wildlife warden, has disposed the petition on mutual terms.
“Respondent Nos 1 and 2 had unloaded 11,500 metric tons of ore at Kalay Railway Station, out of which the 7th and 8th Respondents had already transported 9,526 metric tons of ore to the Adrem Jetty. The 7th and 8th Respondents are now allowed to transport the balance of 2,025 metric tons of ore from the Kalay Railway Station to the Adrem Jetty...this exercise must be completed within a week from today,” the High Court ruled.
As per the terms agreed upon by the parties before the High Court, the ore handlers without prejudice to their rights and contentions, will apply within one week from today to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Goa for permission to handle ore at Kalay Railway Station under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Chief Wildlife Warden, Goa will consider and dispose of the above applications in accordance with law and on their own merits after granting an opportunity of hearing to the Applicants and the Petitioner therein. Such applications should be disposed of within four weeks from the date of their filing.
“The Chief Wildlife Warden must communicate his decision on such applications to all the parties, including the Petitioner. If the Chief Wildlife Warden decides to grant permissions, the same should be made effective after a period of two weeks from the date of their service upon the Petitioner. This means that for a period of two weeks from the date of grant of such permissions, the permission holders will not act on the same,” the High Court ruled.
