The Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) has ordered sealing of a mine in South Goa village after local tribals staged protests and laid siege to various government offices here, fearing mining on a sacred mountain in the area.

GSPCB, in a late night order, ordered shutdown of M/s Devpan ou Devadongor Iron and Manganese Private Limited's mine at Caurem village in South Goa as they failed to comply with the air and water pollution norms.

The order came after a day-long agitation by 150 tribals under banner of Caurem Adivasi Bachao Samiti, which initially met chief minister Digambar Kamat and later held protests at the office of GSPCB.

After travelling 100 kilometres from their village to Panaji, the group even demonstrated in front of the state mines and geology department office forcing mines director Arvind Lolienkar to sign an order asking the mine owner to shift the machinery immediately.

The tribals resorted to agitation after the mining lease, which was dormant all these years, was revived some months back against all the norms. They fear that the mining activity will destroy the mountain, which has rich inhabitation and is a perennial water source.

Caurem tribals worship the mountain, which has allegedly been targeted by the company.

"We don't even pluck a leaf from that mountain. How can we allow a mining firm to swallow it entirely," questioned a 67-year-old woman, who was the part of the group.

The protesters refused to budge till late evening even as the government officials assured them to sign an appropriate order on Wednesday.

Bowing to the pressure, GSPCB issued an order asking local police inspector to seal the mine.

Subsequently, the Mines department also issued another order asking the mining firm to withdraw all their machinery from the site by 5 pm today.

Goa has been witnessing protests in rural areas due to incessant mining activity that has spurred following demand for ore in European countries and also in China.

The state exports around 40 million metric tones of ore annually from its ports. Environmentalists have raised concerns on the increasing mining in the state, which has 100-odd working leases and equal number of mine sites, operating illegally.

A Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) report had pointed out that between 2003-05, one crore tonnes of iron ore was exported illegally without paying royalty.