PANAJI: Following the arrest of 45 residents of Sonshi, who were protesting against air, water and noise pollution on account of mining activities, a complaint has been filed with the Goa State Human Rights Commission on Tuesday.
The complaint highlights the fact that over 350 residents of Sonshi in Sattari have been denied fresh air and water for the past few months due to the ongoing mining ore transportation.
Advocate Aires Rodrigues, in his complaint, has stated that the right to have access to drinking water is a fundamental of life and it is the duty of the state under Article 21 to provide clean drinking water to its people.
“No business activity can violate the rigts of the residents and particularly the children to a clean environment,” Rodrigues stated in his complaint praying that the director general of police, director of mines, member secretary, Goa state pollution control board, and chief secretary be directed to explain how they are mere spectators to the plight and hardship of the residents of Sonshi and their children whose human rights are being blatantly violated.
Rodrigues referred to the 2000 Supreme Court order of AP pollution control board II vs Prof M V Nayudu.
Meanwhile, Vedanta has announced that from Wednesday (April 19), there will be temporary diversion of the transporation of ore from the mines bearing TC Nos: 55/51, 110/53, 70/51, 5/54 , 6/55 & 16/55 bypassing the residential area of Sonshi village which shall join the public road at the entry/exit gate of TC No 16/55. This arrangement will continue till further measures for mitigation are taken to reduce the pollution level.
Source: Times of India
Leave a Reply