Bicholim: Mayem MLA Premendra Shet, joined by Piligao acting sarpanch Umakant Parab Gaonkar and villagers, on Saturday stopped ore-laden trucks on the Bicholim-Sarmanas road, alleging that Vedanta’s mining operations had failed to maintain the stretch during the monsoon.Shet parked his vehicle horizontally across the road to stop the movement of ore-laden trucks. The MLA said he resorted to the protest after repeated complaints over the marshy and slippery condition of the road, allegedly caused by ore-laden truck movement, went unaddressed by the mining company. Residents of Piligao, Sarmanas and adjoining areas said the damaged stretch poses a major safety hazard for pedestrians and two-wheeler users.Locals claimed they had halted ore transportation on at least three earlier occasions over the same issue. Warning of stricter action, Shet said ore movement would not be permitted unless the road was regularly cleaned and maintained. He also called for daily monsoon cleaning to prevent the buildup of mud and slurry on the stretch.“We will not allow the mining company to function as per its whims and fancies. Transportation should not resume until the road is properly cleaned,” Shet said during the protest.Vedanta’s VISL-IOG said it had undertaken extensive monsoon preparedness measures. It said these measures were supported by a study conducted by the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), Dhanbad, which assessed active and inactive pits and dumps in Block I of the Bicholim mineral block as safe. It added that operations were being carried out in accordance with the study’s recommendations.The company said its operations were subject to regular inspections by the directorate of mines and geology (DMG), directorate of mines safety (DMS) and Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). According to the company, a recent joint inspection had found the conditions satisfactory and in accordance with the approved mine plan.
