Thaindian News

Panaji, April 28 (IANS) Facing allegations from anti-mining activists that his government was not acting against rampant illegal mining, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Thursday said that the guilty mines department officials would be “hanged”.

Kamat’s comments come after popular opposition forced two mines near Cauvrem and Gavnem villages, nearly 50 km from Panaji, to be closed earlier this month for operating without the mandatory permissions.

“Mining officials will have to follow the directives. If they don’t do it, they will be hanged,” Kamat, who also holds the mines portfolio, told reporters at a press conference at the state Secretariat.

Villagers living in the vicinity of both the mines had alleged that the mines had been operating illegally in collusion with some mines department officials. Both the mines were functioning without the stipulated permissions required under the Water and Air Pollution Act.

Kamat also said that the state mining policy would be introduced after the central government cleared the proposed amendments to the central Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.

Illegal and unchecked mining is a sensitive issue in Goa, with both civil society groups and the opposition repeatedly voicing their concern over the issue.

According to data submitted in the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly, ore worth Rs.4,000 crore was illegally mined and exported out of the Goa to countries like China, Japan and Romania.

According to Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar, nearly 18 percent of Goa’s total 40 million mining output comprises illegally mined ore. He has also accused the chief minister and several of his cabinet ministers of being hand-in-glove with the illegal mining mafia.