HC: Clear balance ore from Kalay station, but halt further import

The High Court of Bombay at Goa has permitted the company handling ore at the Kalay railway station to transport the balance 2,025 tonne ore from the station to the Adrem jetty and thereafter halt operations until the Chief Wildlife Warden gives a decision in the matter.

The court also restrained the company from acting on any decision of the Chief Wildlife Warden for a period of two weeks, to enable contesting of the decision, if required.

The company has been ordered to halt all further import of ore from Karnataka and its loading on trucks at Kalay to make applications for consent under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The HC order came on a petition filed by the Goa Foundation, which sought to argue that such activities could not be undertaken in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The High Court disposed of the petition filed by the Goa Foundation challenging ore unloading and loading operations within the sanctuary.

The loading operations were organised by a mining company that was importing ore from Karnataka for its own purposes.

The company did not have the consent of the Chief Wildlife Warden for the activity. The railways too conceded they did not have a permit, but claimed they did not require one for such activity on land belonging to it.