GOAMAP welcomes moratorium on new mining environmental clearance

Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) welcomes the decision of Union Minister of Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh to impose moratorium on environmental clearances for the new mining leases in the State of Goa.

GOAMAP congratulates Hon’ble Minister Jairam Ramesh for his bold decision on Goa’s marauding mining industry that is threatening life support systems particularly water bodies in Goa.

GOAMAP demands that moratorium on mines in Goa be extended permanently irrespective of Goa Government’s pending mining policy. Goa Government has been historically a puppet of mining industry and it has precedent of rejecting any adverse report to the mining. TERI report of 1997 commissioned by the Goa Government itself is very good example in this regard.

GOAMAP demand stringent compliance of all the conditions of Environmental Clearances for the existing permitted mines in Goa. In case of violations they must be shut down forever and permissions revoked.

GOAMAP welcomes the plan of Hon’ble Minister Jairam Ramesh to involve NEERI, Nagpur to go in for comprehensive environment impact assessment of all the mining activities of all the mining activities for which permissions has been given over the past few years.