Expert panel proposes cap on future mining activity in Goa

A Goa government panel has recommended capping
mining activity in the coastal state at 20 million metric ton in the next four
years in order to protect fragile ecosystem and reduce the social stress. 

Goa Golden Jubilee Development Council (GGJDC), headed by scientist Raghunath
Mashelkar, has pointed out that unbridled mining activity has surpassed the
social and environmental threshold in the region. 

A document, tilted Vision 2035, prepared by the panel has proposed an upper
limit at around 20 million metric ton on mining between 2010-15 to protect
deteriorating ecosystem and social stress in the region. 

Majority of the cumulative export of 54 million metric ton
from Goa is Iron Ore owing to a huge demand in steel industry from China. 

The Mashelkar panel has also recommended a ban on mining
activity in protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and even
in the high-sensitive regions of the state. 

“Close all mines that have been extracting ore beyond limits allowed by
environmental clearance given by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF),”
the document reads, adding “mining leases in wildlife sanctuaries should
be permanently cancelled”.

Source: The Economic Times