Goa submits report to MoEF on 54 mapped mining leases

Goa Mines and Geology department has submitted a survey report to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest after mapping locations of 54 out of 118 active mining leases, a senior official said today.
The first lot of the survey report which was sent to the MoEF has only one mine falling within a wildlife sanctuary, the official said, adding the survey of all the mines would be completed only after monsoon.
"There are a total of 118 working mining leases in the state. We could survey only 54 of them before the work was halted due to incessant rains," he said.

Of the surveyed mines, one is in the state's Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in Gavane village of Sattari taluka. The mining lease has not been operational for long, the official said.
The survey also indicated that there are 49 mines within 10 kms of state wildlife sanctuaries, while four are situated over ten kms away.
Mines department officials said the survey was conducted using hand held differential global positioning system gadget.
The ore extraction activity in Goa has been put on hold following directives of the Supreme court which has asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to investigate into the illegal mining.