EIAs, ECs on Goa mining leases highly deficient: CEE panel

A high-level committee of environmentalists have discovered discrepancies in the EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) and EC (Environmental Clearance) documents of mining leases in Goa and found that most of the mines in the state are operating within 10-kilometres of wildlife sanctuaries and the national park.
According to a study by Centre for Environmental Education (CEE) Committee, headed by renowned environmentalist Madhav Gadgil, there is a mismatch in figures produced by mining firms and the respective governments while sanctioning the environmental clearances to the mining leases mentioned in the EIA reports.
"There was often a mismatch between the distance given in the EIA document and the distance mentioned in the EC letters. As per our assessment, 30 mines have not mentioned the distance of the mining lease from the boundary of the wildlife sanctuary, while in the case of 46 mines there are discrepancies in the distances provided in the EIA documents and ECs," the study said.

The Committee, which submitted its findings to the state government yesterday, also said that Goa is currently facing serious environmental challenge due to unscientific and haphazard mining activities.
Investigations have revealed that environment clearances have been granted for as many as 182 mining leases in the state, it said.
Then Congress-led government had initiated this study in 2011 to assess the quality of the EIA submitted, compliance with EC conditions and the adequacy of the Environment Management Plans (EMPs) with respect to 105 operational mines in the state.
"It (EIA report) does not justify ignoring National Park, and Wildlife Sanctuaries, falling within 10 km of the Protected Areas when Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL) resolution of January 21, 2002 had mandated that these should be constituted as Ecologically Sensitive Areas," the study said.