The mining sector in Goa is in the eye of the storm with the public refusing to accept the way the state govt intends managing the sector. Villagers, intellectuals and environmentalists have joined together to ask the govt not to allow any players except cooperatives to take up mining in the state. This they think will be the best solution. They are sore about the fact that India is one of those countries that does nothing to stop the plunder of its natural resources.
Times of India and other news outlets report, people in Goa are in favor of prudent mining through cooperatives. And they are up in arms about the govt. not allowing the registration of cooperatives.
Distinguished environmentalist Madhav Gadgil from Goa has said if the state govt is interested in the slogan ”development of all, development with all” as coined by prime minister Narendra Modi , private companies should
not be allowed in the mining sector.
Gadgil said villagers have resolved at their gram sabha meetings that they would take up mining as a cooperative but the government has been creating hurdles for them. Cooperatives could take over mines in Goa just as farmers did sugar factories in Maharashtra in the fifties, Mr. Gadgil said.
Between 2004 and 2012, 87,000 crore worth of iron ore in Goa was sold out of which a mere 19,000 crore went to the central government and a measly 2,800 crore (5 per cent) went to the Goa government with mining companies taking away 33,000 crore, an informed source has claimed.
