PANAJI: Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, assigned to conduct an environment impact study (EIS) on Goa's mining, has found high air pollution in the state's five mining talukas. It also found that the figure of 45 million tonnes of iron ore exports from Goa is too high and has decided to recommend capping of iron ore excavation in the state.
It will also propose that the state government disallow handling of old mining dumps.
ISM will submit the report to the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) next week.
MoEF had assigned ISM the study following allegations of illegal mining in Goa. ISM, which visited 105 mines, was able to conduct the study when mining activity was on as well as when it was stopped.
Speaking to TOI, EIS principal investigator Gurdeep Singh said the study was confined to five mining talukas. "We found that there is significant level of environmental pollution in the entire mining region." He added that there is considerable deterioration of air quality at various junctions on the mining transportation route.
Singh, who is in Goa to hold a workshop on regional environmental impact assessment study of mining, also said that they observed that very high transport density and traffic congestion has given rise to increased particulate matter and associated emission levels. Pollution levels came down during the period mining was banned, he said.
ISM will suggest capping of mining after considering environmental load, sustainability, traffic density, heritage sites, etc. ISM will also recommend replacement of existing trucks with larger carrying capacity trucks to reduce air pollution and traffic.
Another finding by ISM is that while companies were able to control air pollution within mines, they were not able to do so outside the mines. "We have also found that there is no road carrying capacity study in Goa," Singh said.
Regarding water pollution, ISM found siltation in rivers and base water, which hampered agriculture in the state. ISM also observed that wells have dried up in eight villages situated in the north Goa mining belt.
ISM will also suggest alternatives to mining for those dependent on mining for their livelihood. Singh said that only active dumps, which are five years old, should be allowed to operate. The ISM study observed that old mining dumps are surrounded by vegetation and if they are touched it would damage the environment.
Asked whether any study has been conducted on the presence of tigers in Goa, Singh said this is just hearsay and there is no authentication of the tiger presence. "If there was a tiger in Goa he would have required more area to travel and it would have led to man-animal conflict," he said.
