Can there be smoke without a fire? With 90 of the 336 mining leases operating in Goa as per the Directorate of Mining records and only nine having requisite licences others allowed to operate as "deemed" post 2007 (pending renewal of leases ) Justice M. B. Shah's ( retd Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court ) 3 day mission in Goa is clearly to unearth the sadistic rape of our tiny land rich in bio-diversity following the heavy demand for low grade iron ore to meet China's need. The meteoric rise of 9 millions metric tonnes of ore mined in the last fiscal 2010-11 speaks volumes of the illegalities. Indeed a few merchants whose greed runs rough shod over native sentiments, and environment concerns, caring a hoot to the ethical norms of endearing a sustainable development have damaged the fair name of the mining industry in Goa in the recent past. Mining in Goa had graduated from the late fifties to date as a fair avenue for employment generation besides earning the much needed foreign exchange. The irony of the situation is that unlike other parts of the country it still continues in the hands of a few private players and remains a blessing in disguise for the fragile enviroment of this State. There has been a reasonable improvement in wages, living conditions as well though much much more ought to be provided to those that have shifted from agrarian livelihood to mining. Development comes with a few sacrifices but it must be with a human face albeit sharing the bounty is the corollary. Even in the arena of environment degradation much was expected from the mining industry as a quid pro qua to the affected people living in the Central and western ghat region of the State. The divide is obvious those that stay away from these lands have suffered for the comforts of those living away; to the extent that the unaffected ones have developed thick skin towards the sufferings of those within the precincts and periphery of the mining areas. Appeasement through doles for those that squeal are no relief to the misfortune of those in these under-developed regions of the State. Clearly a rural urban shift is witnessed since the last decade with the eventual vaccum being filled in by migrants from backward districts in the country where stark poverty is the order of the day and ones earning does not go higher than half a dollar. Obviously the magnitude of the crime witnessed in the recent years is in collusion with the Central and State Government machinery thus the findings will reveal much more and heads will begin to roll The rule book was thrown to the winds for far too long by these ' fly by night operators " and politicians of all shades and colours followed suit. Obviously in a world where materialism and ostentatious display of wealth rules; those who could not beat them ( the unscrupulous ones ) reluctantly joined them to share the bonanza and have now unwittingly come under the scanner. Justice Shah Commission recommendations will perhaps lay down the rules for the mining industry to be followed post Golden Jubilee year of our Liberation. For now a moratorium on mining is a must as a first step to help create a conducive environment. Those that adhere to the rule book may then be allowed to resume operations. While those that have shared the booty need to be taxed heavily even penalised and the funds so recovered ploughed in restoring the damage caused in the last five fiscal years. The unscrupulous ones have all raised hands clamouring for regularisation as recently witnessed at the first and only public hearing and this opportunity must not be lost. For when the State itself indulges in criminality can others be expected to lag behind in a system that has decayed beyond rectification?
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) gonsalvesgodfre...@yahoo.co.in
