Several hundreds of villagers from Navelim in Bicholim taluka held a protest asking for the closure of Sesa Goa’s metallurgical coke plant in the village.

The villagers claim that the plant is polluting their surroundings. They also say that the company did not obtain any permission from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and Central Ministry for Environment and Forest (CMEF) before starting the project in the village.

Villagers said that the State Pollution Control Board and even the Ministry of Environment Forest (MoEF) had be conduct a public meeting before giving a go ahead to the company and this was never conducted.

The law enforcement officials said that the bandh started at 7 am and has been without any vio, ent incident. The protests were shouting slogans against the company and project and blocked the entire road link that connects Panaji to Bicholim taluka.

Villagers believe that the expansion of the expansion of its facility has resulted in increased pollution in their area. The company had established the plant in 2006 and started its expansion this month. The gram sabha held on Sunday decided to hold the protest to attract attention towards the illegal proceedings in the plant.