33 mines to shut down with 1-km buffer zone
PTI, PANAJI | 23 October 2012 21:39 IST
Mine owners in Goa have expressed their reservations over the state government’s decision to have buffer zones around wildlife sanctuaries.
Thirty-three mines, operating within one km of a national park, sanctuary or protected areas without permission, will be directly affected if the decision is implemented.
Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association (GMOEA) secretary Glenn Kalavampara said given the contiguity of forest land due to the topography of Goa, the Cabinet decision to demarcate eco-sensitive buffer zones of 100 m to one km around the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks here will have an adverse socio-economic impact in these regions.
“GMOEA supports an eco-sensitive and sustainable view to mineral development in the state. However, this decision by the Cabinet takes 4.7 per cent of Goa out of the ambit of economic progress and directly impacts over 4,000 jobs in the area, without any rightful reason,” he said.
The total forest area in Goa is about 38 per cent of the total geographical area, of which, less than 7 per cent area, where mining happens is considered to be forest area and these mines have been accorded all the requisite government clearances, both at the state and the central level, the GMOEA said.
Last Wednesday, the Goa Cabinet had decided to keep one km of buffer zone for wildlife sanctuaries and fixed 100 metres for Salim Ali bird sanctuary and Bondla wildlife sanctuary here.
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This is the first step towards ban on mining. GMOEA is a selfish and self centered body. It will say many things to protect its interest. Where was this body when illigal mining was in full swing during erswhile congress regime?its members looted and pocketed goa for rs.35,000 crores. Can this body cooperate the government to recover this loot? Or GMOEA is there only to get something from government and help.its members to loot the Goa?
The cabinet should stick to its decision. In fact it should be more than one kilometer, as forest minister said. The more mines comes under the ambit of buffer zone the better, so that majority of the mines will be closed and slowly the mining is stopped in Goa in the near future. Let the people, in the mining belt start looking for alternative sources for their livelihood now itself. They should not depend on mining now.
We need to protect our motherland. It's resources needs to be protected for our future generations.
- Ratikant, UAE/GOA | 24 th October 2012 01:28
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