Forest dept submits reports on illegal mining to govt

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-06-24
PANAJI - The chief conservator of forests, Mr Shashi Kumar has submitted to government the details of all illegal mining activities being carried out in the state by various persons, in five reports covering every aspect of the Goan mining industry. Two more reports are in the process of being forwarded to the government.
It may be recalled that last year, the state government had appointed a high-level committee headed by Mr Shashi Kumar to investigate into all the mining activities in the state.
Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’, Mr Shashi Kumar said that the reports have informed the government about illegal mining activities in Goa as found by the committee. “The committee has further recommended the government to take action in cases where illegal mining is carried out,” he stated, adding that based on the approval of these reports by the government, the department of forests would ask the respective departments to take necessary action as every department has limited mandate as per the rules and regulations, to do so.
The chief conservator of forests also stated that the committee has found no mining activity in the state wildlife sanctuaries as well as in areas around them. “If any mine was found functioning in or around the wildlife sanctuaries, we would have taken action against it by now,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, the environmentalists, who claimed that there exist several mines in the wildlife sanctuaries, reacting to the report demanded to know on which basis the panel reached such a decision. They also maintained that several mines including illegal mines are still functioning in the Selaulim dam area and near the Netraulim wildlife sanctuary.
It may also be recalled that the leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, during past successive assembly sessions had alleged rampant illegal mining in Goa, predicting that the same would cause irreversible damage to natural resources like water. The Speaker of the state assembly, Mr Pratapsingh Rane too had observed during a recent public event that local politicians have been protecting the illegal mining industry, which has led to degradation of environment in Goa.