Centre asks Goa to cancel nod to mines in eco-zones

The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has asked the Goa government to cancel clearances given to 19 private mining firms to operate within the 10-km eco-sensitive zones around wildlife sanctuaries. Snehal Rebello reports.

The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has asked the Goa government to cancel clearances given to 19 private mining firms to operate within the 10-km eco-sensitive zones around wildlife sanctuaries.

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The SC had in 2006 ruled that mines need the approval of the National Board of Wildlife to operate within these zones.

Prakriti Srivastava, deputy inspector general, wildlife, MoEF, told HT: "It has been brought to our notice that there are mines operating in the buffer zone without clearance from the board. We have asked the forest department to cancel these approvals."

Srivastava said the mines would have to re-apply to the board for clearance. "We can either accept the proposal or reject it."

But Goa's principal chief conservator of forests, Shashi Kumar, said: "We have not received the circular. And we have not reached a decision on whether to revoke leases. The files are still passing around."

Significantly, the MoEF has submitted the directive in the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on October 19.

The Goa government has, in the last four years, granted clearances in the buffer zone even to mines that do not have the board's nod. It has defended its decision by saying the state advocate general's opinion has been that clearance from state forest officials is sufficient.

HT has, in a series of reports, revealed how nearly half the mines in Goa's forests do not have wildlife clearances and how illegal mining has cost the state Rs 3,000 crore.

In May this year, the MoEF had directed the state government to shut a mine situated three km from the Netravali wildlife sanctuary.