Mine owners in Goa have expressed their reservations over the state government’s decision to have buffer zones around wildlife sanctuaries.
Thirty-three mines, operating within one km of a national park, sanctuary or protected areas without permission, will be directly affected if the decision is implemented.
Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association (GMOEA) secretary Glenn Kalavampara said given the contiguity of forest land due to the topography of Goa, the Cabinet decision to demarcate eco-sensitive buffer zones of 100 m to one km around the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks here will have an adverse socio-economic impact in these regions.
“GMOEA supports an eco-sensitive and sustainable view to mineral development in the state. However, this decision by the Cabinet takes 4.7 per cent of Goa out of the ambit of economic progress and directly impacts over 4,000 jobs in the area, without any rightful reason,” he said.
The total forest area in Goa is about 38 per cent of the total geographical area, of which, less than 7 per cent area, where mining happens is considered to be forest area and these mines have been accorded all the requisite government clearances, both at the state and the central level, the GMOEA said.
Last Wednesday, the Goa Cabinet had decided to keep one km of buffer zone for wildlife sanctuaries and fixed 100 metres for Salim Ali bird sanctuary and Bondla wildlife sanctuary here.