Committee Finds No Mining Around Goa's Wildlife Sanctuaries

Goa, the tiny coastal land of India which share its corridor with the Western Ghats encompasses five wildlife sanctuaries and a national parks.

During this year's State Legislative Assembly Session, the Opposition party has raised their pitch against the State Mining Department. Opposition party of Goa has accused the Mining Department of shielding mining within wildlife sanctuaries. So, to check this problem a high level committee was formed by the state government of Goa.

This high level committee was constituted to find out whether there is any exploration activity within or around these wildlife sanctuaries. Another job of this committee was also to inspect all the mines and compile the irregularities and the violation of the norms by the mine owners.

Till date the committee has compiled five reports listing various irregularities related to mining in the state. But, according to Shashi Kumar, the Chief Conservator of Forest(CCF) and also the head of this committee there is not single case of mining registered within or around the state's wildlife sanctuaries. He assured that if any such mining exists in the sanctuaries of the State than the State Forest Department would have certainly taken steps to safeguard the natural ambiance of these wild abodes.