Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant pitched for the reopening of mines located within ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats after a “scientific assessment” so that “eligible mineral resources can be considered for auctions while protecting ecologically sensitive locations.”
“Availability of the land for compensatory afforestation is another concern. Particularly for the blocks involving forest land. Goa has a limited land available for this purpose. We would appreciate the ministry’s guidelines identifying a solution within the existing forest and environmental laws,” he added. Goa is yet to auction leases in villages provisionally identified as Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive by the ministry of environment and forests, given the uncertainty surrounding their status.
“Around 153 leases fall within eco-sensitive areas of the Western Ghats. Goa has so far auctioned 17 mineral blocks, six of which are operational. Annual production has reached approximately 19.15 million tonnes against the Supreme Court-imposed upper limit of 20 million tonnes per annum, according to figures cited by Sawant.
We have requested a review of certain villages including these areas based on the scientific assessment and applicable legal process so that eligible mineral resources can be considered for auctions while protecting ecologically sensitive locations,” Sawant said.
Addressing the 4th conference of mining ministers on reforms in the mining and coal sectors held in Goa on Thursday, Sawant also sought a “solution from the union ministry of environment and forests”, given that Goa has limited land for compensatory afforestation. “The chief minister says he wishes to open up new mines in ecologically sensitive areas. There is no monitoring whatsoever, and people are forced to come out on the streets in protest against pollution,” Gauns said.
But on the mines that have already opened, the story is no different than it was before the ban.
Sawant, for his part, said that “the state government will not tolerate any violations of the environmental law or the prescribed mining condition.”
