"Env impact of Goa's illegal mining worst than Kar & AP"
PTI, PANAJI | 26 September 2011 23:42 IST
The Leader of Opposition in Goa, Manohar Parrikar today said that even though the quantum of illegal mining in Goa is equal to that in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh together, its environmental impact is much worse in the state.
Addressing a press conference today, Parrikar said that being a small state as compared to Karnataka, the impact of illegal mining is 15 to 20 times more in Goa.
"The quantum of illegal mining in the state is almost equal to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh together.
However, Karnataka is a bigger state and if there is a particular quantum of illegal iron ore extracted, the impact is divided.
But Goa, being a small state, the impact would be more," he explained.
He said that the quantum of royalty evasion has increased substantially due to the China boom that hit the iron ore extraction business.
"After the (China) boom, royalty leakage has increased manifold," he said, adding that illegal mining has overshadowed legal mining owing to it.
The BJP leader said that there is a chance to say that political patronage is the main cause of illegal mining.
"Government has not been able to stop illegal mining until February 2011, when the Public Accounts committee (PAC) started investigating," Parrikar, who heads the PAC, said.
Alleging lack of political will for stopping illegal mining, Parrikar said that the committee headed by Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) had identified 30 mines that are violating rules.
"Only one mine was stopped. That too, because locals protested," he said.
Alleging that all the ministers in the ruling government are responsible for illegal mining, Parrikar demanded a probe by CBI or independent authority to inquire about their involvement in illegal mining.
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