Experts want end to illegal mining in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Environmentalists said that the state government should take cognizance of the Supreme Court order that banned mining in Bellary district Karnataka and put an end to mining in eco-sensitive areas of Maharashtra.

The court’s central empowered committee on Friday said the Centre and state had done nothing to curb illegal mining in Karnataka. “The situation is almost similar in other states along the Konkan belt. The miners have almost destroyed green hillocks, polluted inland rivers and estuaries in Goa. Their next target is Maharashtra’s Konkan belt,’’ said D Stalin, project director, Vanashakti, an environmental NGO that took up the cause of illegal mining in Sindhudurg.

Early this year, flowing a series of TOI reports the Union environment ministry cancelled 49 proposed mining leases along the western ghats in Sindhudurg district. The leases, once operational, would have destroyed a major part of the forest cover in the Konkan belt of the state.

Environmentalists point out there are over 15 mines operational in the Konkan belt for the past many years. “A majority of them got mining approval in the last two decade by submitting a false environmental assessment report.(EIA) The EIA report is done by the mining firm themselves and do not mention the details of the rich flora and fauna in the region,’’ he said. Environmentalists said Reddy mines that is close to Sawantwadi beach has now become a huge crater after a decade of mining.