Goa: Illegal mines to be shut

The Goa government has said that all illegal mines in the state will be shut down after the committee submits its report.

"We will shut down all illegal mines after the committee submits its report," said Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

The Goa government finally took action against illegal mining in the state; pushed to the wall by protests of the opposition through the monsoon session, activism of citizens and a crucial report that shows at least 35 per cent of Goa's mining activity is illegal. The violation could be more.

The inquiry committee headed by the Chief Forest Conservator inspected 48 of the 105 mines in Goa and found 36 of them running on leases that have expired.

And these are the biggest violators:

• V S Dempo & Company Private Limited: Lease expired on November 21, 2007
• Salgaocar Mining Industries: Lease expired on November 21, 2007
• Sociedade de Fomento Industrial Private Limited: Lease expired on November 21, 2007
• Rajaram Bandekar (Sirigao Mines) Private Limited: Lease expired on November 21, 2007
• Jitendra Deshprabhu: Mined 6 tonnes iron ore on his own land without authorisation