Mining ores pollute river in remote Goa: Parrikar

PANAJI: Goa's leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday alleged that a mainstream river located in remote taluka of the state is being polluted by mining firms who use it to wash the ores.

"There are seven mining leases which are along Kushawati river which feeds drinking water to majority part of Goa," Parrikar participating in the discussion on budget said.

He said that remote talukas like Sattari, Quepem, Sanguem and partly Canacona offer water supply to the entire Goa and disturbing the ecology of these talukas will spark drinking water scarcity.

Parrikar said that the number of mines had gone up from 72 three years back to 116 now. "These are working mines. We cannot degrade our environment further," the BJP leader said.

He said, he would meet Union Environment Minister Jayram Ramesh and put forward the mining issue. "The meaning of GDP as green domestic product should also be applicable to Goa," Parrikar added.

The leader of opposition clarified that he has no issue with legal mining, if it follows all the requisite norms.