GOA GOVERNMENT HAS DETECTED 507 ILLEGAL MINES IN GOA
Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge)
Smt. Jayanti Natarajan, informed Mr. Shantaram Naik MP in the Rajya
Sabha today in a written reply on the mining issue of Goa that as per
information provided by Ministry of Mines, State Government of Goa has
detected 494 cases of illegal mining for the period June 2006, till
December 2009, and for the year 2010-2011, it has reported 13 cases of
illegal mining.
The question of Mr. Naik was listed as star question, however, for want
of time, only written reply was furnished.
She further informed Mr. Naik that Ministry of Environment and Forests
has not made any survey regarding illegal mines in operation in Goa.
However, the Central Government has appointed Shri Justice M.B. Shah
Commission of Inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 to
inquire into the large scale mining of iron ore and manganese ore
without lawful authority in several States vide Notification S.O.2817
dated 22nd November, 2010. The Commission has started functioning and
has undertaken visit of Goa mines as part of its mandate.
She further said that Section 23C of the Mines and Minerals
(Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 provides for State Government to
formulate Rules to control illegal mining.
Ministry of Environment and Forests considers proposals for grant of
environmental clearance in terms of the provisions of the Environment
Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006after the mining lease has
been granted by the State Government. While granting environmental
clearance, necessary environmental safeguards/conditions are stipulated
for their implementation during project cycle, Minister said.
Implementation of the stipulated conditions is monitored by the Regional
Office of Ministry of Environment and Forests. Cases of
non-compliance/partial compliance are followed up with the projects
proponent for their effective compliance including initiation of action
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. During the last 3 years
and the current year, the Regional Office of Ministry of Environment
Forests at Bangalore has monitored 50 mining projects in the State of
Goa and the observed non-compliances have been pointed out to the
projects proponent for ensuring an effective compliance of the
stipulated conditions, Minister further added.
Shantaram Naik
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