Illegal mining in Goa

The Shah Commission report on illegal mining in Goa is an eye opener. It is not only an issue of looting of a whooping sum of Rs. 35,000 crore through illegal mining with political patronage and connivance of corrupt officials, but also the colossal damage caused to the ecology, environment, agricultural, ground water, natural streams, ponds, rivers, biodiversity, etc. It is incomprehensible to note that for more than a decade there has been unrestricted, unchecked and unregulated export of iron ore to China, which made the exporters rich and richer and the politicians and bureaucrats wealthier and wealthier through large scale corruption. It is painful to note from the Commission’s report that the Ministers of Mines as well as the Chief Ministers were well aware about non-compliance of conditions and other illegalities/irregularities happening in the mining sector and that the regulatory mechanism has been entirely collapsed and irregularities due to maladministration have risen to its peak. In a way, total damage has been caused to environmental sustainability and ecosystem due to indiscriminate mining in Goa. Similar situation, nay much worse, happened in Bellary in Karnataka. A report published by the Lok Ayukta uncovered major violations and large scale corruption in mining in Bellary, including in the allowed geography, encroachment of forest land, massive underpayment of state mining royalties relative to the market price of iron ore and systematic starvation of government mining entities. According to reports more than 5 lakh truck load of iron ore has been transported illegally amounting to thousands of crores of rupees with the active collusion of officials and politicians in permitting illegal mining. The entire area has been rendered environmentally unsustainable and unusable for cultivation. The same is the situation in other parts of the country. Therefore, both the central governments should wake up and take steps to stop this pernicious practice of illegal and unscientific mining so as to save the country from environmental and ecological disaster, besides preventing the looting of public money by unscrupulous elements with the support of the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.
Dr. C.Murukadas,NDTV,  Sep.9, 2012