Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 22: Goa`s apex industrial bodies have appealed to the state government not to ignore the mining as a major economic booster for the state, while drafting the regional plan 2021.
 
The recommendations by Goa Chamber and Industries (GCCI) and Goa Real Estate Developers Association have come when state government formed task force is busy giving final touches to the land use plan – regional plan 2021.
 
The regional plan 2011 had gathered much public outory for discrimination allowing the land for the purpose of conversion, which was later scrapped. The regional plan 2021 is now carved out with much care by the task force headed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat himself.
 
“We are not supporting illegal mining but that does not give mandate to shun the mining activities in the state which is a major economic activity in the state”, a GCCI recommendation mentions according to a top secretariat official.
 
The Chamber has said that the mining near wild life sanctuaries and in the catchment areas need not be banned immediately and can be faded out in phased manner.
 
“May be over next five years, it can be phased out so that the economy is not affected. Mining is also a backbone of Goa`s rural economy”, the Chamber has pointed out.
 
The draft regional plan 2021 had noted that most of the mining leases in the state are in and around sanctuaries and forest areas and there is complete incompatibility of uses.
 
The draft regional plan 2021 which is open for modification has said that out of 12.45 square kilometers of government forest, five square kilometers is affected by mining.
 
The area under private forests has almost been reduced to half from 38,733 sq kms to 200 sq kms.
 
Goa`s is India`s leading major iron ore exporter destination and gets foreign exchange earning to the tune of Rs. 1,000 crore annually.
 
The Goa Real Estate Developers Association in its recommendation has said that non cultivated and non tanented land should be allowed for development.
 
The draft regional plan 2021 had raised concern on the pressure on state`s land indicating that the state population will touch 18 lakhs mark with the floating population of another two lakhs by 2021.
 
The industrial bodies have also questioned rights of local panchayats has become a bone of contention for these bodies.
 
“Panchayats has no locus standing in special planning and it should be done by the state government. Gram Sabha has no role to play in it”, the recommendations reads.