Mining in Goa: damage to the environment greater than loss of revenue

Activists demand assessment of impact of mining on state's environment and communities

Published on:

30 Sep 2011, 1:28 pm

Illegal mining in Goa is being projected as a bigger scam than Bellary. While revenue losses from illegal mining has been estimated at about Rs 3,000 crore, the loss by way of damage to the environment and loss of livelihood has not been estimated.

An estimated 100,000 people living in the villages in four talukas in north and south Goa have lost their source of living
Their farms have been destroyed by mining silt and water sources have been contaminated
Mining has caused irreversible damage to forests, agriculture, fisheries and water aquifers
Goa has 90 operational mines spread along the Western Ghats in an area of 150 to 200 sq km. Most of the legal and illegal mines are in forest areas
A Raja, now in jail in connection with the 2G spectrum scam, issued 169 environment clearances for mines in Goa between 2005 and 2009 when he was the Union minister of state for environment