Panaji: Policy makers and environmentalists
are gradually moving towards a consensus that there should be
ceiling on the iron ore tapped from Goa`s soil.
Goa government, by and large, has not taken any stand in
this matter. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the issues
like ceiling could be addressed through the state mining
policy, a document that is still being worked upon.
State Governor Dr S S Sidhu during the Environment
Protection Council meeting held on Wednesday had said that
state should go ahead with its own policy to control mining.
"State government should go ahead with framing its own
policy to control mineral ore mining which may be aligned with
the central policy," Sidhu said.
Governor, addressing a meeting in presence of Chief
Minister said that mining has started affecting the
environment in the state and government should have a policy
framework to tackle it.
Governor`s view echoes the opinion expressed by noted
environmentalist Madhav Gadgil, who had questioned the hurry
in tapping the mineral resource from Goan Earth.
"What`s the hurry? The mineral ore resources are not
going to perish and demand for it will continue even in
future," Gadgil had said addressing a Youth Convention
recently.
Gadgil, Chairman on Western Ghat Ecology Experts Panel,
has also hinted at regulation of mining around these bio
diversity hotspots.
Goa exports around 45 million metric tonnes of iron ore to
the countries like China. A royalty of around Rs 900 crore is
earned by state through the exports.
The demand for ore fuelled by China has suddenly prepped
up the mining activity in the state. Firms like Vedanta
Resources have acquired mines from Dempos, who were the
traditional mine owner alongwith others like Salgaoncar,
Timblo and Chowgules.
The demand to cap the amount of iron ore that could be
tapped from Goa was raised during the recent Legislative
Assembly by Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar.
Parrikar had said the state should put up a ceiling which
is required to preserve our resources for future.
The Leader of Opposition had also said that such a
ceiling would eliminate illegal mining industry in the state.
PTI
