Buffer zone to wipe out half of the mines

PTI, PANAJI | 09 May 2012 12:22 IST

Almost half of Goa's mining leases stand on the brink of closure as the state Forest Department is all set to submit its final report on May 12 demarcating the buffer zone in the state.

Two committees set up by the Goa Forest Department, which will submit their final report to the state government, are likely to suggest a radius of three to five kilometers as the buffer zone around wildlife sanctuaries, depending on the eco sensitivity of the region.

"As many as 44 mines would be affected if the committees proposed three to five kilometers as buffer zone around wildlife sanctuaries," Chief Wildlife Warden Richard D'Souza told PTI.

Goa has a total of 90 operational mining leases, most of them abutting the forest areas, besides five wildlife sanctuaries and one National Park.

The state-level committees which were mandated to suggest the buffer zone will give their area-wise findings in their report.

Meanwhile, sources in the Forest Department said the committees will not abide by the Centre's direction to have a 10-km uniform buffer zone around the sanctuaries.

Goa's mining industry is on toes ahead of submission of the report and the subsequent decision, if any, of the state government on the buffer zone.

In 2007, a committee headed by a bureaucrat Rajiv Yaduvanshi had recommended "zero buffer zone", triggering protests from environmentalists.

Goa's flora and fauna is under threat over increasing mining.

Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had recently asked seven mines to suspend operations for encroaching upon forest areas.


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Good observations.

Our society developing leaders whose leadership skills are for sale. It is true the people of Savordem, Curchorem and Selvona have been breathing iron dust for last 60 years. Now Kepem and Kavre are also joining. Per ton price is fixed based on importance or influence of the concerned. Yesterdays pauper is todays paisewala. No wonder, elected persons who have roots not to be written about but are rolling in money today.

- francis perera, margao | 11 th May 2012 15:18

 

The secret of licences and permits and public hearing are not hidden from the common man....Those who make noise against mining are well taken care of and if the noise is very loud---the loud noise makers are understood to be given houses away from the mining areas in cities to shut their mouths......Many other less noise makers are taken care of by helping them get trucks and employing the trucks to give them a steady income---to create a strong group of supporters....and the rest have to eat dust and dirt and drink red contaminated water.....And the huge loot is naturally shared by a few powerful from Goa to Delhi.---politicians, bureaucrats and entrepreneurs...That is the saga of Mining in a nut shell....

- vishwas prabhudesai, loliem | 10 th May 2012 21:02

 

Hi Goa News,

Hope there have been some buffer zone in our village for us a a human being to survive a fleet of around 1000 plus ore laden trucks on a narrow roads (in process of speedy acquiring courtesy BIG TIME MINEOWNERS)If Im kidding in this age of fairness and equality than make a visit to a tiny village called Xelvona where a new born if tries to put his thumb in his mouth are forced by their elders to put their index fingure in their ears to avoid loss of hearing and as when they grow up they are mostly ended up as truck owners/drivers after couple of years of education hence making them overdependent on mines,What i think the old time mineowners who accumulated the wealth in millions of different currencies should have diversified their buisness in different fields and educated the people like some of our villagers to take various other options but they are reluctant to give even scholarships to our village students with aspirations and even threatening the closure of some institute or even forming of new Government,Always remember what you guys have sold to China,Japan etc. is from the treasury of every GOAN .

- Dessai, Curchorem | 10 th May 2012 02:21

 

Hi vishwas prabhudesai , loliem::: The answer to your question is very simple.

Permits & Leases are promptly & efficiently issued on payment of crores of Rupees, in bribes ,and delivered in Suitcases.

IN the TCP in Margao, you can also get you work done promptly, if you deliver hundreds of rupees in an envelope with your paper work.

And do not forget to "wink",when you deliver or collect your paperwork.Winking indicates a sly & illegal payment is being made to the TCP.

Every Goan I have met ,has had to pay the TCP in Margao a bribe.If there is a Goan that has not done so, or never did so, he is fibbing.

- N.Fernandes, London | 09 th May 2012 20:56

 

The assets made by a few Bureaucrats who fell in love of Goa and managed to stick here for long years avoiding posting out of State---could bring interesting information. The chain from the State to Centre---in processing of Mining leases and renewals of various mining permits and clearances could also reveal many interesting facts .. What is that makes them work so efficiently in processing mining related clearances and permits? The common man would love to know....

- vishwas prabhudesai, loliem | 09 th May 2012 17:09

 

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