Panaji:
A report on illegal mining in Goa by Justice MB Shah's commission has been submitted to the Mines ministry. The report says that the state failed to stop illegal mining and has caused danger to the environment, sources have told NDTV. The report also suggests a complete ban on mining exports from Goa, sources add.
Most mines in the state are operating without deemed extension and iron ore is being extracted outside leased areas, say sources.
NDTV exclusively gained access to the report in November last year - the conclusions were grim. The report then showed more than 50 per cent of all working mines in Goa as guilty of illegalities - the violations range from mining outside permissible areas to a complete disregard for environmental and wildlife clearances. Many companies have been mining by proxy - using fronts to mine more than the quotas assigned to them.
Goa's 122 mines - of which about 90 are operational - have been inspected by the Shah Commission since September last year. The report has strong reforms in mind. It finds that the export of iron ore- largely to hungry markets in China - has fuelled illegal mining. In 2010, Goa exported about 54 million tons of iron ore.
In July, the Supreme Court banned all mining in Bellary, which lies on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border, after a committee of experts found illegal mining flourishing there.
BS Yeddyurappa, who was Chief Minister of Karnataka, was forced to resign after a report on illegal mining by the state's Lokayukta or ombdusmam indicted him along with senior ministers and bureaucrats.