There is no need to oppose mining activities for the sake of opposing them says Sawant
Goemkarponn desk
MAYEM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today said that state government is ready to exclude Shri Devi Lairai Temple from the mining lease block at Sirigao that is auctioned.
Sawant was speaking at a function to distribute Sanads to locals on evacuee property at Mayem.
“State government is ready to exclude Shri Devi Lairai Temple from the mining lease block at Sirigao that is auctioned. There is no need to oppose mining activities for the sake of opposing them,” said Sawant.
He further if the land belongs to the government, we will transfer it in the name of the temple trust.
“Problems can be solved after speaking with the government,” he added.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) had clarified that the Lairai devi temple, located with the Shirgao mining lease area will not be affected due to mining activities.
Shanbhogue had said that the Lairai Devi temple is situated within the mining lease area, but the temple has been there since the lease was allocated approximately 50 years ago.
The Devi Lairai deity and Sirigao villagers have contended that mining activity has been carried out in the village environment for a period exceeding 50 years till it was halted by the Supreme Court in October 2012.
The earlier leases, which came to an end in 2007 were granted by the Portuguese through a manifest that did not include any survey number. Thereafter, the position of the mining leases vis-à-vis the village settlement of Sirigao and the Devi Lairai temple became known to the authorities.
