SUSPEND MINING AROUND SONSHI
STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA It would be in the fitness of things to suspend mining activities around Sonshi village until appropriate mining guidelines under the Supreme Court directives are being implemented to curb, air, water and noise pollution in the area. The special investigation team (SIT) is in the process of quizzing former CM Digamber Kamat for his involvement in the illegal mining activities to the tune of Rs.35,000 crore mining scam and it should not happen that an alleged mining scam is in the making during the pendency of the SIT investigation. The 350 villager of Sonshi should hence be given immediate relief as far as restoring their clean air, water and noise levels are covered. Only after implementation of strict Supreme Court guidelines, can mining be resumed in a step-by-step and orderly manner that will not affect the air, water and noise pollution in the Sonshi village. Securing of loaded trucks with tarpaulin to prevent particularly air pollution, removing the possibility of run-off during the monsoons, thus eradicating pollution of the Sonshi water bodies as well as reducing the number of trips to reduce noise pollution are some of the measures that may be then implanted. Just as due process is being followed in the case of Kamat, due process must be followed for everyone. The BJP’s call for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to resign is uncalled for. The Dy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia has already clarified that the allegation against Kejriwal is false and fabricated for having accepted a bribe. It may be recalled that the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was suspected to be involved in the aftermath of the Godhra carnage, a high profile case that led to Narendra Modi at that time being denied a visa to travel to the U.S.A by the US Government. In the light of this it is absolutely unacceptable that the BJP should demand for resignation of Kejriwal. Let the law take its own course and thus Arvind Kejriwal is innocent unless proved guilty. Stephen dias DATE: 8.5.2017