Goa Assembly's Public Accounts
Committee (PAC) is understood to have expressed fears that if illegal mining in
the state is not curbed, even the legal mines here will face closure,
highly-placed sources said.
Illegal mining has resulted in
strain on infrastructure, ecology, agriculture and threatens to destroy the
water security of the state if it is not controlled immediately.
“During the series of meetings, the PAC observed that the overburden of
illegal mining is damaging the prospects of legal mining,” the source
stated.
The PAC report, which has relied on the data provided by Directorate of Mines
and Geology (DOMG) and Forest Department, has calculated that annually around
20 million tons of ore is exported from the state.
“The total value of the ore that is mined in violation of the law on
Mining and Environment exceeds Rs 4,000 crore annually,” the sources
stated.
The report is understood to have recommended that an independent agency like
CBI or Lokayukta be asked to probe into illegal mining nexus being carried out
in connivance of local politicians, bureaucrats of the Mines and Forest
departments and police force.
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