PANJIM, SEPT 19
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today warned that if Goa government fails to curtail illegal mining in the State, it will be compelled to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
Speaking at a press conference in Panjim, North Goa Member of Parliament Shripad Naik said BJP will give a final call to the government to take steps against the illegal mining trade.
“The government is deaf to take action on our three-year-old demand to curb the illegal mining trade. We will agitate. However, we are giving the government one more chance to take action, failing which we will demand CBI inquiry,” said the former BJP president.
Naik admitted that increasing illegal mining has pressed a warning button in the state. “There is so much illegal mining taking place in Goa and it is indeed a serious issue,” he said.
According to the statistics released by the mining department, iron ore to a whooping tune of Rs 4,000 crore is illegally extracted and exported from Goa. Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar in the recently concluded legislative assembly session in July alleged that many ministers from the present government are involved in the illegal mining trade.
Meanwhile, replying to a media question on the final CRZ notification draft released by the Union government, Naik urged that the age-old settlers along the belt should not be troubled.
National Fishworkers Forum (NFW) acting chairman Mathany Saldhana had raised concerned over the fresh notification claiming it an ‘eye wash’, as it does not propose protection to the fishing community.
The Central Environment and Forest Ministry in the notification has asked the State to conduct a survey and map fishing villages throughout the coastline of Goa. Saldanha raised apprehensions that it is an attempt to displace the fishing community.
He had also alleged that the final draft is to pave way for concretization along the coastline by constructing housing projects, atomic and thermal plants, etc.
