Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) today clarified that the Lairai devi temple, located with the Shirgao mining lease area will not be affected due to mining activities.
Speaking on the issue, DMG Director Dr Suresh Shanbhogue 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.
“We have said that the same lease area will remain “as it is & where it is”; no additional areas have been added, and the temple will continue in its current location,” said Shanbhogue.
Vedanta Ltd. obtained the rights to the mining block in the auctions held in December of last year, and if activities are resumed at the location of the current mine, that will be a significant milestone.
“Despite the fact that this mine will affect six communities, the state government hasn’t bothered to translate the report’s technical terms. They aim to push this through without the locals being aware of the effects of the mining, according to campaigner and Bicholim resident Swapnesh Sherlekar.
“In just the last 50 years, mining has damaged our once-fertile fields and destroyed the springs that supplied us with water. Imagine the amount of havoc that will occur in the next 50 years, Sakharam Pednekar of the villagers’ union said. “This current mine is now being given a fresh lease of another 50 years.
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