Aires, What exactly is "illegal" mining? By focussing on "illegal mining" (I counted the word seven times in your post) are you suggesting that "legal mining" is not a problem in Goa?
While writing on the environment in the past (since the late 1980s) we noticed that villagers in the hinterland were complaining about the huge footprint mining as a whole left on their face. Its impact is visible for all to see. This "illegal mining" discourse is a recent addition, aimed at deflecting attention from a wider problem. I think the Opposition too has been playing this game; what is your stand on it? FN On 4 May 2011 11:44, Aires Rodrigues <[email protected]> wrote: > The current rampant illegal mining is the biggest critical threat > facing this once beautiful Goa. During the recent session of the Goa > Legislative Assembly, Speaker Pratapsingh Rane thundered that illegal > mining was a rape of Goa. Curiously he has been silent all this while, > merrily witnessing, if not condoning, all that raping around. Indeed > he continues speechless and spineless in the face of such illegal > activity going on even in his very backyard, at Satari, with the > alleged blessings of his son, the Health Minister of Goa Mr. Vishwajit > Rane. > > Chief Minister of Goa, Mr. Digambar Kamat too recently called for the > hanging of those involved in illegal mining. It is public knowledge > that over half of the current Ministers and MLA’s, including the Chief > Minister himself, have direct or indirect interests in mining, much of > which is known to be illegal. So whom will you hang, Mr. Chief > Minister? You should be taking the responsibility for strangulating > Goa’s natural resources and, thereby, the people of Goa particularly > the Aam Aadmi. The Chief Minister and his colleagues in this illegal > mining may think that have made fast bucks. But posterity will not > forgive them. Their souls may never rest in peace while their progeny > may pay a terrible price as well. This illegal mining will haunt them > for eternity.
