PANAJI
Just ahead of monsoon, the fresh iron ore mining activities have commenced at Shirgao-Mayem mineral block owned by M/s Salgaocar Shipping Pvt Ltd.
Shirgao mine is the second to start fresh operations after the Bicholim Mineral block, last year. Both the mineral blocks are located in Bicholim taluka.
Director Mines Narayan Gad informed that the mining activities have commenced at Shirgao-Mayem mineral block from today (Thursday). Gad said that the bidder has obtained all the requisite permissions including Environmental Clearance.
The DMG has already obtained an undertaking from Salgaocar Shipping Pvt Ltd stating that it will not undertake any excavation work within the buffer zone of 150 meters from the outer compound wall of Shree Lairai Devi temple and 50 meters from the last house located within the mineral block.
The government has auctioned a total of three mineral blocks in Bicholim taluka- Bicholim- Mulgao mining block, Shirgao-Mayem mining block and Monte-de-Sirigao mining block. The successful bidders include Vedanta Limited, Salgaocar Shipping and NS Bandekar.
According to the locals, while Bicholim-Mulgao mining block there are 18 temples including the famous Shree Lairai Devi, 400 houses, commercial structures and water bodies, in Shirgao-Mayem lease area there are 230 houses, 14 temples, 4 schools and 3 lakes.
