Goa Foundation wants mining leases to be banned, claims rampant illegal mining

Goa foundation on Thursday said that only way illegal mining can be stopped is if one auction the extraction only. As of now, the mines are being leased out by the state. 

Goa has been in the news for illegal mining after the Justice MB Shah report. And for 4 years mining has been stopped.

Even now mining has still not restarted in full swing. But according to central government data, there are 12 instances of illegal mining in Goa out of a total of 48.

And even after directions from the Apex Court and the Centre the state government despite having the money has still not done anything for mining-affected people but has only concentrated on mining dependent people.   

Goa Foundation said that the state government has almost 140 crore rupees in their kitty as part of the District Mineral foundation which is part of a statutory central government scheme.

Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation said that the government has not spent any money on this for what it was supposed to be spent on – taking care of mining-affected people.

He said that if the government was planning on building a mining corridor with that money, they would approach the courts as mining corridor was only for mining companies and not for people.