Illegal mining in Goa limited to 9 ha: Govt told Parl panel

Goa government has said that illegal mining is restricted to "miniscule" area of nine hectares in the state, much lesser than estimation of Justice M B Shah Commission report, according to Ashwani Kumar who heads a Parliamentary panel on Environment.
"It was stated by the government in its representation that illegal mining is (restricted) in minuscule area of nine hectares, although the M B Shah Commission report says it is (on) 400 hectares," Kumar told reporters today.
The Standing Committee on Science and Technology and Environment and Forest today held discussions with various stake-holders of mining industry, including miners and civil society groups, in South Goa.

Kumar said the issue of illegal mining also cropped up during the deliberations.
He said the "kind of efforts required to preserve the pristine environment and ecology of glory of Goa seem absent".
"We need to ensure that all the laws need to be made effective before their implementation and enforcement. This need is self-evident because what we do now will be for future generation of this country," he said.
To a query, he said the panel's recommendation to Union government on various issues concerning Goa cannot be disclosed because they are confidential.