Mining sites in Goa to be notified in Regional Plan

A high-level committee today decided to notify mining sites in Goa in the Regional Plan 2021.
The four-hour long meeting of State Level Steering Committee (SLSC) held in the city decided that the forest areas and mining sites should be notified in the Regional Plan, a land use plan, which is currently being drafted by the government.
"It was decided that the data should be collected from all the departments, including Forest and Mines, which will give a clear picture of the notified forest covers, private forest areas and the land being used to extract iron ore," Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza, who chaired the SLSC meeting told reporters today.

The data, which will be collected would be included in the RP 2021 and the areas would be notified, he said.
Laxmikant Parsekar-led government has been drawing flak from the civil society members for its failure to finalise the RP for the state. BJP, in its 2012 election manifesto, had assured to finalise the RP 2021 on a priority basis.
D'Souza said while notifying the mining areas, the parameters declared by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) about the eco-sensitive zones will be strictly obliged.

The Deputy Chief minister, who also holds Town and Country Planning portfolio, said the land use plan for the entire state would be notified in phases.

"The plan would be notified taluka-wise," he said.
The state government had kept open the RP for public scrutiny inviting suggestions and objections.
The SLSC is considering the public feedback before deciding on the plan, he said.