MINING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE IN GOA

That this House applauds the work of the Goa Foundation and the Save Goa Campaign in exposing the immense damage caused to the environment in Goa by numerous, extensive and large-scale mining operations, which are bulldozing hills, destroying dense forests, diverting and polluting water sources, undermining local agriculture, seriously damaging local biodiversity anddeleteriously impacting upon the health, well-being, livelihoods and quality of lifeof the Goan population; and calls on the Government to urge the Indian government and Goan State government to address as a matter of urgency an agenda to save the environment of Goa by capping the present pace of mining, halting the disposal of the mining rejects, stopping the construction of the mining bypass, closing the 19 mines around the Selaulim Dam and phasing out mining, starting with the immediate closure of all illegal mines and the instigation of an active programme to encourage green andsustainable industries in Goa.