Digital Goa, Aug 11- Large number of people from Bicholim, Mayem, Shirgao, Lamgao and surrounding villages attended the public hearing for recently auctioned block 1 Bicholim Mineral Block. Most of the speakers said that they were not opposed to mining per say but had objection to the haphazard manner in which it was being done. They demanded a sustainable mining plan. They also objected to the fact that no subject expert who could address their queries was there from the govt side at the public hearing. The hearing was conducted at Narayan Zantye Multipurpose Sports Complex, Sarvan, Bicholim Goa. Some of the attendees demanded postponing of the public hearing objecting to the fact that the mining block has been shown as a fresh lease, just commencing production, when the mining lease has been under continuous operation since 1941.
Vedanta was declared as the preferred bidder for this block, which was one among the first four blocks auctioned by the Goa govt in Dec 2022. Block I of the Bicholim Mineral Block with area of 478.5206 Ha is located in Bicholim, Bordem, Lamgao, Mulgao, Mayem and Sirigao villages of Bicholim Taluka with production capacity of 3.0 MPTA of iron ore.
