CHAPTER - 6

SUMMARY, SUGGESTIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

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CHAPTER 6

6.0 SUMMARY, SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Each aspect of the iron ore mining industry in Goa and the study area in

particular has been discussed extensively throughout this research. This chapter

concludes the study by presenting a summary of the entire research; puts forth broad,

but focused suggestions for the mining issues in Goa and the study area; and proposes

specific recommendations.

The summary of the entire research includes the background research about iron

ore mining, mining in India and Goa, an in-depth study of mining problems in Goa, and

the need for sustainability in mining. The suggestions are based on all the background

research and analysis, the detailed investigation through primary surveys in the entire

region and in the study area, and through extensive discussions and consultations with

all the stakeholders concerned with the mining industry in Goa and in the study area.

Specific recommendations provide a clear set of action items and emphasize that these

are critical for implementation.

This research suggests that sustainability in a growing economy can ensure

dignified livelihoods and safe access to the same to all residents, while ensuring that all

businesses, infrastructure and services are ecologically sustainable during all stages of

production and consumption without degrading the region’s natural systems.

In order to accomplish the above, this study identifies a few critical

requirements. These are not limited to: Mapping and demarcation of the buffer area and

eco-sensitive zones; Determination of permissible mining leases; Engineering

technologies and practices that do not entail further destruction of the natural

environment is urgently required to replace existing forms of mining in Goa;

Collective/shared responsibility by the mining industry to protect water and aquatic

ecosystems; Adoption of precautionary approach to the disposal of mining waste; and

The permit of mining operations only with the accompaniment of necessary

environmental and financial obligations. These are encapsulated in a limited manner for

the purpose of this introductory section below:

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Open-cast or strip mining is one of the most destructive forms of mining, and in

many areas of the world, companies have replaced the method with better practices like

room and pillar extraction, which does not entail much destruction of forests or other

natural elements on the surface. Along with adopting better practices, surface water

entering the mine pit can be controlled using improved engineering techniques to

prevent water from flowing in to the mines. Water exposed to sulphur- bearing minerals

in an oxidizing environment, such as an open pit or underground workings, may become

acidified and gets contaminated with metals. The mining industry must collectively

share responsibility to protect water and aquatic ecosystems by forestalling pollutions as

much as possible, and the communities that rely on them, especially since mining

produces such large quantities of toxic waste. Companies and governments must adopt a

precautionary approach to disposal of tailings and ensure that mining operations do not

dump tailings or other mine waste into natural bodies of surface water, including rivers,

streams, lakes, wetlands, and intertidal, estuarine, and marine ecosystems. Governments

must only permit mining operations with simultaneous injunctions to protect our oceans,

rivers, streams and wetlands from mining pollution, and with full financial obligations

to cover the cost of clean-up, remediation, and restoration of tailings storage areas.

The following research summary, and the various suggestions and specific

recommendations provide a more thorough discussion of all the issues addressed in this

research and the specific actions to be taken by diverse stakeholders to address all the

identified problems.

6.1. Research Summary

Iron resources are not just raw materials for obtaining metals and alloys like iron

and steel, but in fact critical and valuable resources for catalysing all round industrial

growth and development of any economy. However, there is an inherent conflict evident

in the fundamental position of iron and steel in economies at all levels, and iron ore

mining has negatively impacted the state of natural environment and irreversibly

changed sensitive human and wild habitats. There is a need to understand and assess the

combined and overlapping impacts of mining on the environment, society, and economy

in a state like Goa that has not only large quantities of ore deposits, but also rich natural

ecology, and sensitive and vulnerable habitats.

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6.1.1. Iron Ore Mining in India

India is considered to be one of the largest producers of iron ore in the world

along with China, Brazil and Australia. It contributes more than 7 percent of the world’s

production and is ranked fourth in terms of the quantity produced. The Indian steel

Industry is primarily based on Hematite resources: Of the total 28.526 billion tons of

iron ore resources in India, Hematite resources are 17.88 billion tones and Magnetite

resources are 10.64 billion tons, or about 63 percent and 37 percent respectively. The

production of steel in India is growing at a rate of about 7.8 percent per annum during

2005-06 to 2011-12 and steel capacity of more than 89 MMT per annum is expected to

be achieved by end of Year 2020. This is seen to be higher than the projections of the

National Steel Policy, 2005. As the steel production is projected to grow, the actual

requirement of iron ore by the domestic iron and steel industry is also expected to grow.

6.1.2. Iron Ore Mining in Goa

Mining in the territory of Goa was initiated through a Decree of 1906 by the

erstwhile Portuguese regime. The regime granted 810 concessions of a size of about 100

Ha each to explore and extract the mineral ore. A meagre amount of 1406 tons of ore

was produced in the year 1941, which rose to 39, 58,586 (3.96 MMT) by the year 1960.

The period of 1980 to 2000 witnessed a high degree of mechanization in mining, and

with demand for ore from many foreign countries, the production has reached the level

of 51.17 MMT during the year 2010-11as against 45 MMT the previous year. Mining

contributes around 4.2 percent of the state GDP and earns Rs.9.61 billion in tax revenue

with the export of more than 45 MMT of ore annually from Goa to other countries. It

provides employment to about 80,000 persons directly and 40,000 indirectly.

The total resources in the state were estimated to be 1149845 thousand tonnes, of

which 927172 thousand tonnes was Hematite ore and 222673 thousand tonnes was

Magnetite ore. The district of South Goa had higher distribution of types of ore with

284210 thousand tonnes of Hematite ore and 204668 thousand tonnes of Magnetite ore,

as opposed to 173118 thousand tonnes of Hematite ore and 2330 thousand tonnes of

Magnetite ore in North Goa.

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6.1.3. Environmental Impacts From Mining in Goa

In Goa, 8 percent of the state surface is already occupied by mining, mostly to

extract iron ore. It is a major conflict area where mining activity is confronting flora and

fauna, the original habitants of nature. Mining has degraded land in the form of

deforestation, groundwater pollution, surface water pollution and dense dust deposition

everywhere. Damage to the environment is mainly due to mining waste dumps,

pumping out of muddy waters from the working pits including those where the mining

operations have gone below the water table, and slimes from the beneficiation plant.

The washed out material from the dumps and the flow of slimes from the beneficial

plants pollute the surrounding water sources and cause siltation of water-ways,

especially during monsoon.

There are large numbers of mines within the Government forest area and about

500 Sq. Kms are affected by mining activities. Area under private forests has

precipitously come down from 387.33 Sq. Kms to less than 200 Sq. Kms (TERI AEQM

plan for the mining Belt of Goa, 1997).

Large areas of fertile agricultural lands have been diverted for mining and most

of the agricultural lands around the mining areas are all spoilt due to overflowing of

mining waste during rainy season. This has led to, at times violent conflicts between

those involved in agriculture and those with mining in the area. Land degradation is

another main problem, as minerals dissolved in rain water runoff lead to infertility of the

soil. The loss of soil quality; contaminated water; hardened slimes and silts; destruction

of local and regional waterways; etc., have all lead to a serious decline in agricultural

production.

Mining has also affected the Salaulim reservoir in Sangeum taluka, which

supplies drinking water to half the state's population, besides providing water for

irrigation and industries. Over 20 mines are operating in the vicinity of the dam. Heavy

silt has settled in the dam reservoir because of mining.

About 362 barges are used to transport the ore to the ports (for export) through

inland waterways using mainly the Mandovi and Zuari Rivers and the Cumbarjua Canal.

There are 31 loading jetties on the River Mandovi and 14 on the River Zuari, under the

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control of various mine owners. Loading jetties for barges have resulted in surface

water pollution during loading and unloading operations. The continuous movement of

tippers on these roads creates a deposition of the dust and iron ore on the roads. This

contributes to air pollution not only in the vicinity of the mines but also along the

transportation corridors. Also, when these dust particles settle on the leaves of plants, it

hampers photosynthesis and thus causes depletion of productivity.

6.1.4. Existing Official Initiatives and Recommendations to Address the

Environmental Impacts

The environmental issues highlighted above accentuate the need for finding a

rational, administratively implementable and scientifically sustainable solution through

planning. Land use planning is a major tool for development administration. The

legislations and governing regulations thereunder play a major role in managing the

environment of a region, including Goa. Official initiatives and plans that recognize the

environmental impacts and provide specific recommendations have been discussed in

detail in Chapter 2. A few selected official initiatives are summarized below.

Forest Act, 1980: This act is of particular significance to mining activity in

India as most mines occur in forest areas. The Act requires mining firms to seek Central

Government approval for a mining lease to be granted in respect of any forest area for

the resumption of mining operations on the expiry of mining lease; for information

relating to rehabilitation of mine sites, damage to trees, distance of the site from

important eco systems and highways, reclamations procedures, and extent of subsidence

expected in underground mines when proposals are made to divert forest land to non-

forest use.

Comprehensive Industry Document on Iron Ore Mining by the Central

Pollution Control Board (CPCB), (2007) documents the environmental impacts of

Iron ore mining and highlights the following:

The environmental impacts on air, water, land, flora and fauna occurs at

mine exploration, exploitation and associated activities. This has resulted

in the deterioration of forest ecology, alteration of land use pattern and

change in local drainage system due to inadequate landscape

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management during mining operation and improper and inadequate

rehabilitation strategy adopted.

Current rehabilitation is principally directed at restoring visual amenity,

stabilizing disturbed areas and growing trees that will prove useful to the

future generations.

The most conspicuous positive impact of iron ore mining in India is in

the areas of social and economic upliftment. It has led to better

healthcare, education and living standards.

Dust is the major issue of concern in all the mining areas during non-

monsoon periods. In the areas of high rainfall (more than 2500 mm

annual average in the Goa and Kudremukh region), the control of

suspended solids in the surface runoff become an issue of major concern,

and the situation further worsen because of the presence of scattered, un-

stabilised and improperly designed waste dumps.

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), Part I (2011) has

recommended an indefinite moratorium on new environmental clearances for mining in

ESZ 1 and 2 in Goa and a phasing out of mining by 2016 in ecologically sensitive Zone

1. Further, in ESZ2, it has recommended that mining be carried out under strict

regulation with an effective system of social audit. It also recommends that for mining

in Goa, cumulative EIAs must be made mandatory rather than entertaining EIAs for

individual leases in the same areas. For mines currently operating below the water table,

it recommends that it should be mandatory for the company to have plans in place for

ground water management and use that will not affect local wells and water supply.

The Final report – Regional Plan 2021 – Release Two by the Government of

Goa (2011) (RPG) has mapped 117 working mining leases and recommends that

working mines the numbers should not increase. Further, from this pool of 117 mining

leases, it recommends termination and phasing out of leases that are located close to

settlements, Wild Life Sanctuaries and National Parks, heritage sites and ecologically

sensitive areas. RPG gives clear guidelines for the same.

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6.1.5. Current Status of Iron Ore Mining in Goa and the Study Area

Goa's mining operations were suspended first by the Goa Government on

10.09.2012 after the Justice M.B Shah Commission Report was tabled in the Parliament.

After this, 139 Environmental Clearances were suspended by the Ministry of

Environment and Forests on 14.09.2012, followed by the Supreme Court of India order

for ban on iron ore mining operations in the State on 5.10.2012, in the context of the

Goa Foundation petition 435/2012. Justice M.B Shah Commission and the Central

Empowered Committee had investigated and reported several irregularities/illegalities

concerning the mining industry in Goa. Though the period of ban has lasted for more

than 20 months, there are very few detailed studies done by Government agencies to

assess the impacts from the ban on mining. However, a few research works and many

reviews by the media are full of data regarding this scenario.

Migration and population growth scenario: Though mining usually attracts

migrations, the survey indicates that majority of the people residing in the study area

had already migrated 15 to 20 years ago and a marginal 4 percentage of recent migration

has taken place in the past 5 years. There is significant intra-state migration of people of

Goa from the midland and the ghats to the urban centers and coastal areas within the

state, which indicates uneven economic development in the state. Population growth

rate has reduced by 50 percent i.e. 8.23 percent compared to 15.2 percent earlier. The

population density of 390 persons per Sq. Kms in the state is higher than the

neighbouring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra indicating incrementally rising

pressure on available land and other resources.

Impact on Agriculture activities: Agriculture activities in the study region has

received a major negative impact in the mining belt. Agriculture has been virtually side-

lined to only 25 percent of the households depending on it. Out of 25 percent of the

households who are owning agriculture lands, nearly 20 percent of them have diverted

their lands for mining operations. Cultivators and Agriculture workers have declined

drastically from 86,201 Agriculture workers to 58,114 workers from 2001-11. There is a

reduction of 28,087 Agriculture workers in Goa. In the study area, cultivators and

agriculture workers have declined from 46,418 persons to 30,014 persons i.e. a

reduction of 15304 during 2001 -2011. This indicates a decline in agricultural activity in

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Goa as well as study area. Main workers and total workers have increased in Goa,

whereas in the study area both main workers and marginal workers have reduced from

2001-2011. This indicates a declining trend in the participation in agricultural activities

and more and more workers resorting to mining activities. The yield of crops, livestock

(except poultry), have also seen a negative growth trend. Out of 269 households which

owned agricultural lands only 26 percent of them had taken up for livestock rearing as

part of their economic activities in the study area. Of the total agriculturists 28 percent

have reported negative impact of mining on grazing lands.

Mining activity, socio-economic scenario and other details of the study area

from primary surveys: Mining activity has a major influence on the socio - economic

scenario in the study area. The economic activities and dependency of the citizens on

mining is evident in the mining belt. From the primary surveys for this research, it is

observed that almost 48 percent of the households depend on mining and allied

activities, of which people involved in mining transport alone shows 21 percent

dependency.

A quick analysis of the socio- economic scenario in the study area indicates that

more than 57 percent households possess or live in pacca houses and 30 percent

households live in semi pacca houses. Only 13 percent of the households live in kacha

houses. This signifies better living conditions in the mining belt. Similarly, 75 percent of

households in the mining belt are served with piped water supply compared to states

averages for rural areas of 78 percent households (Census of India 2011). The sanitation

facilities in the mining areas indicate 90 percent of households using own toilets in the

study area and a majority of households have access to cooking gas. Ownership of four

wheelers and two wheelers is more than the state average. There is a general reduction

of respiratory infections in Goa as well as study area after 2009. This could be the result

of various directives of the Honorable Court and strict implementation of pollution

control measures by the authorities.

Analysis of transportation related impacts and tripper ownership: About 33

percent of the respondents reported pollution as one of the major fall outs of mining

traffic followed by traffic congestion (27 percent) and accidents (21 percent). 72.92

percent of the households reported negative impact of ore transportation. Among the

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study villages reporting negative impacts of mining, highest percentage of 88.17 percent

was in Mulgao and the lowest at 59.21 percent was in Cudnem. Out of the 1060

households surveyed, 226 (21.32 percent) households own tippers leased out for mining

companies.

The average number of tippers per owner in the study village works out to 1.86.

The average number of trucks among tipper owners per household in Sanvordem and

Cudnem is more than 2.0. On an average, the transport business is being carried out in

the region as a main economic activity for the past 7.67 years. In villages like

Sanvordem, Xeldem and Cudnem, transport operations have been carried out for the

past more than 9 years. It is observed that the average distance plied by trucks in the

study area is around 81.24 Kms per day. This average distance has a direct bearing on

the distance from mines to Jetty, type of road and the intensity of traffic. The average

net monthly income per tipper is around Rs. 62,763/, which indicates that having a

tipper is a very profitable business.

Impacts along transportation routes: Out of 355 households residing within

100 Meters from the transportation routes, 78.03% have reported negative impact.

Similarly 83.18% residing between 100-500 Meters and 55% residing between 500-

1000 Meters and 71.58 % residing beyond 1000 Meters have expressed negative

impacts of mining. By and large the response of negative impacts has been higher

between 0-500 Meters compared to those residing beyond 500 Meters.

An analysis of the impact of mining traffic along 100 meter stretch on both sides

of the road corridors was carried out by using the land use plans of Regional Plan 2021.

Bicholim taluka has nearly 14,000 people who are exposed to mining dust pollution

followed by Quepem with 9,736 people. The study area has 38500 people exposed to

this adverse condition. 60.85% of the respondents have welcomed the decision of the

authorities to impose restrictions on mining traffic during school hours. 61.32% have

reported that the transport operators have been complying with the policy restrictions.

About 52% of the respondents desire to have an exclusive mining road corridor by by-

passing the residential areas and towns.

Positive and negative perceptions of mining: According to the perception of

the residents, negative impacts of mining are pollution, transportation problems and

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contamination of agriculture lands and water bodies. However, 46 percent of the

households surveyed have reported that the contribution of mining to the local economy

has improved, whereas only 12 percent reported that it had worsened the conditions and

11 percent reported that the status quo had not changed. Of the 46 percent households

reporting improvement, 31 percent of households had stake in mining. Generally, less

than 50 percent of the surveyed people feel that mining has improved the socio-

economic status. Whereas, 67 percent those directly involved in mining transport or

employment feel mining has actually improved socio-economic scenario in the region.

The most important problem reported in the household survey was that of pollution with

37% share of the total households surveyed, followed by effect on transportation (20%)

and health and wellbeing related issues (9%). Most preferred option reported as an

alternative source of income were tailoring and vegetable cultivation with 46% and 40%

share of the total responses. Jam and jelly making and mushroom farming followed

next with 31 and 29 percent share of the total households surveyed.

Valid leases and working leases details of sample villages in the study area:

The study area covers about 2176.11 Sq. Kms, which is 58.78 percent of the total area

of Goa. Currently, 336 valid leases are on the records of the authorities of which 90 to

120 leases have been working at some time or the other. A quick look at the ratio of

working lease to valid lease areas shows that it touches nearly 38.6 percent. It means

that 38.6 percent of valid leases area have been under working mining in the past.

Bicholim taluka covers 8.7 percent followed by Quepem 7.22 percent and Sanguem

with 5.06 percent. Under working lease area Bicholim taluka in the study area has the

least forest cover with 877.07 Ha of land, of which, 408.47 Ha of land is already under

mining, thereby covering 46.57 percent of the total forest area in the taluka. 209.35 Ha

of paddy fields have been consumed by working mines directly. It does not include the

agricultural area (paddy fields) lost due to siltation from mining sludge. 2.55 percent of

the total settlement area is consumed by mining with in the working lease area.

However, the figure varies from 1.65 percent in Quepem, 7.25 percent in Dharbandora

taluka, Bicholim taluka has lost 4.4 percent of its settlement.

Quepem taluka has 7.19 percent area of water bodies lost to mining followed by

Bicholim taluka with 4.40 percent. About 27 percent of the land under working leases/

mining in the study area comes from forest land. If private forest is to be included, then

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the percentage goes to 28.66 percent. In Quepem Taluka working mines have consumed

4.84 percent of land from agricultural use. The impact could be much higher if all the

affected agricultural land is taken in to account. It could be a fruitful effort to make a

detailed study focused only on agricultural land affected by mining. It is observed that

62 percent of the working mines area is primarily from orchard zone followed by 27

percent from forest zones and 5 percent from settlement zones.

The talukas of Dharbandora and Sanguem cover 41 percent and 34 percent

respectively. It means that about 41 percent working mining area in Dharbandora are in

Forest land and 1/3 of working mines in Sanquem are in forest land.

Out of the total working lease area, 4.94 percent area consumed by mining is

from Settlement use, and 8 percent of area from Settlement zone in Sattari taluka

followed by 7.45 percent in Bicholim taluka.

Land use changes in the study area: Land use pattern in 2000 and 2012 of the

study area indicate reduction of forest land and agriculture land to the tune of 7.77 Sq.

Kms of forest and 24.5 Sq. Kms of agricultural land. However, the study also indicates

an increase in waste land to a total of 15.74 Sq. Kms, built up land to the tune of 13.02

Sq. Kms and water bodies to the tune of 3.51 Sq. Kms. Increase in waste land and the

built up land could be due to the fact that most of the mined and exposed area and the

fresh dumps are treated as waste land by the satellite. Increase in water bodies is due to

the accumulation of water in the mining pits during monsoon when ore extraction is

discontinued.

Delineation of buffer zones: The crucial goal in and around the Wildlife

sanctuaries and National parks is to determine or identify Buffer zones, which may act

as transition zone between areas of high protection and between areas of low / no

protection. Delineation of Buffer zone assumed significance in Goa due to the mining

leases overlapping in and around Wildlife sanctuaries. The Government of India

(MoEF) has issued guidelines on 9th February, 2011 for the declaration of Eco-sensitive

zones around National Park and Wildlife sanctuaries. The guidelines also include the

activities which are prohibited, regulated and permitted around National Park and

Wildlife sanctuaries. Wild Life conservation strategies in 2002 where by the decision

taken to notify the areas within 10 Km of boundaries of National Park and Wild Life

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corridors as eco-sensitive areas. However, the 10 Km wide Buffer zone was seen as

impacting many settlements and the mining activities by many states. The state

Committee submitted a report on 01.06.2007 and suggested a “0-1” Km buffer zone

for Bondla, Cotigao, and Dr. Salim Ali wild life sanctuary and 0 kms for the remaining

wildlife sanctuaries. The buffer zone as per the committee is shown in Map 5.2. As per

this, only marginal areas were covered within the buffer zone. It would retain 82

working mines 263 valid leases.

The Regional Plan for Goa (RPG) – 2021 suggested, and marked on the plans, a

1Km wide buffer zone all around the Wildlife sanctuaries, National Park, and a wild life

corridor. The RPG-2021 has also suggested 1 km buffer from Selaulim Reservoir.

Regional Plan for Goa suggested to terminate all working leases in the Wildlife

sanctuaries as well as from the buffer zone. As per the draft RPG-2021, only 77 working

leases (working mines) would be allowed to continue their operations and only 221

valid leases conform to the norms out of 336 valid leases.

It is observed that as per the CEC (Central Empowered Committee)

classification, 63.44percent of the protected areas are in Category A which is having an

area of more than 500 Sq. kms. The National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Goa fall

under B, C and D category in their individual area status and does not qualify for

category A. This would qualify them for 1 km buffer zone around. Whereas, by

applying “Contiguous Factor” all the protected areas of Goa qualify to be Category A.

Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) has designated the entire Westerns

Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and assigned three levels of Ecologically

Sensitive Zones to different regions of it.

In the case of Goa, 1 minute x 1 minute grids were used, and the zones across

talukas were defined based on ecological significance of grids. For the state of Goa,

WGEEP recommends an indefinite moratorium on new environmental clearances for

mining in ecologically sensitive zones 1 and 2, a phasing out of mining in Ecologically

Sensitive Zone 1 by 2016. The Working Group followed a detailed geospatial analysis

for identifications of Ecologically Sensitive Areas at a fine resolution of 24 m with

village as unit. The buffer zone area in this case comes to 29432 Ha. Which is 23.89

percent of existing forest area of Goa and 7.95 percent of geographical area of Goa.

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The WEEGP recommendation covers an area that is almost equivalent to 77

percent of the total forest area of Goa under ESZ category. The KasturiRangan

recommendation covers 60 percent or equivalent of total forest area and 20 percent of

Geographical area of Goa. The state government decided and suggested 1 Km or major

water body within 1 Km as the buffer zone. The buffer zone area in this case comes to

23557 Ha. Which is 19.12 percent of existing forest area of Goa and 6.36 percent of

geographical area of Goa.

Pollution monitoring analysis in the study area: The Goa state pollution

control board which is a subsidiary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

under the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India is monitoring Air

& Water Quality, under National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and National

Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). The Board monitors water bodies at

29 locations all over the state under National water quality Programme covering rivers,

wells, canals, reservoir and creeks out of which 11 stations are in the study area.

Since the study is focused on impact assessment it is necessary to observe the

data results during the mining period compared to non-mining periods. Iron Ore Mining

in Goa is completely suspended with effect from September 2012. The result of

monitoring stations before September 2012 and after September 2012 are compared to

obtain the impact of mining during the operations.

The desirable pH value is 6.5 to 8.5 and the turbidity is 5 to 10. The data

indicates that Kushavati river at Kevona, Rivona, Sanguem and Selaulim river at

Sanguem recorded a higher than the permissible limits of pH value. Whereas, all the

other stations record the pH value of less than permissible limit. Whereas, the turbidity

do vary during monsoons and non- monsoons seasons. In general the Water Quality

analysis does not depict any marked annual change in all parameters.

It is observed that though the general quality of water in the rivers mostly

satisfied the quality requirement of the designated best uses, locating the monitoring

stations at loading points, up streams of the catchment areas of reservoir, underground

streams, and tube wells in mining belt could throw different results. From the health

statistics, water borne diseases and chronic illnesses associated with bad quality of water

can be observed in the mining belts.

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The ambient air samples are collected from each stations twice a week as per the

standard norms for ambient air quality monitoring and normal parameters RSPM, SPM,

SO2 and NOX. Six out of Seven new stations are located in mining belts. There are 11

ambient air quality monitoring stations throughout Goa. Time series data of ambient air

quality is also analysed before suspension of mining operations with effect from

September 2012, and after the suspension of mining operations. The data obtained

before and after the suspension of mining operation gives very clear indications of the

air quality parameters.

There is a clear impact of mining activities visible on the air quality. The result

can also be interpolated to determine the level of mining operations to be permitted in a

region to maintain the level of ambient air quality. Analysis of Ambient air quality data

of Codli and Curchorem stations, during the period from Dec 2010 to Nov 2013,

indicate that the air pollution is observed to be higher before Sep 2012 and it has

gradually subsided below the permissible levels. All the parameters i.e. SOX, NOX and

pH 2.5 are seen below the permissible limit. pH10 has been indicating a very high value

exceeding the permissible limits during the mining operations, particularly during the

period of Dec 2011 to May 2011. The ambient air quality monitoring trend during the

period 2010 upto March 2013 indicates that the particulate matter levels were very high

(exceeding the permissible limits) during 2010-11 and 2011-2012 at Codli, Bicholim,

Honda and Usgao and at Tilamol-Quepem during 2011-12.

Currently the entire traffic of tippers moves through existing roads network in

the study area. As such, the alignments of the roads pass through existing settlement

area/ villagers and towns. The density of tippers on these roads has increased multi-fold

in the last 20 years. Increase in production of iron ore has a direct bearing on the no. of

tippers required to transport the ore as well as increase the income level of the people in

the mining region. This trend has led to an increase in no. of tippers as well as the

number of 4 wheelers and 2 wheelers and other commercial vehicles. The study area has

38,500 people exposed to adverse conditions.

6.2. Suggestions

Based on the background research and analysis of the results of the primary

survey, the following suggestions are presented for consideration. These cover issues

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regarding lease permits; buffer zones; agricultural activities; compensation for

alternative economic activities; issues regarding abandoned mines; issues regarding

tippers and transportation; the carrying capacity of the mining region; etc. These are

detailed below under different categories.

6.2.1. Lease Permits and Buffer Zones

On an average 39 percent of the area under valid lease is operational. There is a

need to maintain this operational level in all the talukas. Operational mines with

permission from the Forest Department shall be phased out within 2 years provided a

closure plan is approved by the government along with rehabilitation plan of the flora,

the people, workers, farmers etc. All the valid leases currently not under operation, and

those which are inside NP, WLS, forest and buffer zone shall be terminated. In other

words no Environmental Clarence and approvals shall be granted for any valid leases to

operate in eco-sensitive areas. The working mines which are already started extraction

but fall in protected area and buffer zone (ESZ) shall also be terminated.

There is a need to use advanced technologies for re-assessing mining leases; the

mineral survey in Goa was done during the Portuguese period while granting

concessions. In today’s circumstances, there are advance technologies for assessment,

identification and confirmation and quantification. Most of the concessions were

granted in the past, which are still valid legally, shall be reviewed and reassessed by

usingadvance technology. Based on the results, uneconomical concessions / leases

should be abolished.

6.2.2. Agricultural Activities and Compensation

Agricultural activities in the study area has been on the decline over the last

decades. This is reflected in declining productivity of the fields and decreasing numbers

of cultivators and agricultural workers. It is therefore necessary to revive agriculture and

encourage allied activities to agriculture so as to sustain the workers in the non-mining

sectors. It is necessary to encourage cooperative farming in the area so as to make

agricultural activities consolidated, economical and sustainable.

There is a need to survey and identify agriculture land affected by mining due to

siltation, flooding, sledging, loss of fertility due to polluted water from the mining pits.

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Adequate compensation mechanisms for the affected agricultural lands have to be

operationalized as part of the monitoring mechanism. The rehabilitation of paddy fields/

agriculture lands as well as tribal population depending on such agriculture land should

be made compulsory in any mining plan.

6.2.3. Suggestions for Abandoned Mines

Abandoned mining pits could be converted into potential water bodies for

storage of water and used for agriculture after treating the water, if necessary.

Abandoned mining areas could be considered for the development of eco-tourism

resorts, eco-sensitive habitats, and for regeneration of the landscape with native

plantings and vegetation.

6.2.4. Suggestions for Tippers and the Impacts of Transportation

Number of tippers plying through the settlement area have to be reduced to

acceptable levels. The procedure suggested by the Hon’ble High Court in terms of load

factors, timings, and the quantum, speed limits etc. should be implemented

scrupulously.

Alternative methods of transport of ore other than roads shall be explored such

as railways, conveyor belts, etc. The recommendation of Regional Plan for Goa-2021 to

provide railway link could be explored, as detailed at Appendix VI-3.

There is a need to study and assess the problems of the population affected by

mining transport and provide adequate safety and compensatory measures to reduce the

pollution within the settlement areas and compensate those affected through health

insurance etc.

The Northern cluster of miners can be connected with conveyor belts from the

mines to the jetties as they are close to each other. The Central clusters of mines could

be connected to south-western railway through sidings as indicated at Appendix VI-4.

The Southern cluster of mines which entail transportation for more than 30 kms to the

jetties could be connected to the railway line at Bali railway station at Quepem taluka

by creating a tunnel of road or conveyor belt and then transporting the ore upto the

Mormugao port.

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6.2.5. The Carrying Capacity of the Mining Region and Capping of Production

Carrying capacity of the mining region has to be worked out before permitting

any mining. The amount of extraction to be permitted in a year shall be determined

keeping in view the holding capacity of the region, and the carrying capacity of roads

and settlement areas. Capping of production shall be done based on holding capacity of

the region, carrying capacity of the region and sustainable period of mining.

6.3. Recommendations

Specific recommendations are presented here. These are based on the entire

research process and the findings from primary surveys. These recommendations build

upon the strengths of the existing official plans, acts and initiatives, and comprehensive

legislations and monitoring systems. Although many are classified under the same

categories as the list of suggestions above, these recommendations are specifically

focused on the need for implementation and effective enforcement of many of the

legislations. It also sets forth new requirements especially with regard to the use of

advanced technologies, mandatory determination of carrying capacity and holding

capacity, and emphasizes the setting up of monitoring cells and expert committees for

implementation processes.

6.3.1. Lease Permits and Buffer Zone

Adequate legal provisions are required to be made in order to exercise the

powers to review old concessions and grants based on the new assessment of mineral

potential.

A clear mapping and demarcation of the protected area, buffer zones as per the

criteria suggested by MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) and as

recommended by the author at para 5.1.2.10., shall be made as a pre-requisite for

preparing a “sustainable mining plan”. The author recommends that an effective area of

54,135 Hectares of land be brought under the buffer zone, which works out to 44

percent equivalent of total forest area, and 14.62 percent of the entire geographical area

of Goa.

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It is necessary to determine the permissible valid leases that can be permitted to

be mined in the future after following the Eco- Sensitive criteria. The numbers and the

area in each zone or taluka for fixing the production capping has to be determined. No

new environmental clearance are to be sanctioned to the leases which are in protected

areas and Buffer Zones. The working mines which are targeted for termination due to

the application of eco-sensitive zone and buffer zone criteria should have closure plans.

Necessary order has to be issued by competent authority under the relevant legislation

terminating the leases falling within the Eco-Sensitive Zones.

Recommendations made by the Shah Commission shall be implemented

particularly with reference to control of unauthorised mining. Recommendation made

on controlling mining in the Regional Plan for Goa-2021 (final), Release two (2011)

shall be followed as referred in Appendix VI-1.

6.3.2. Agricultural Activities and Compensation

An agriculture expert committee has to be set up to survey, assess and determine

the mining affected fields and suggest remedial measures to revive agriculture in the

region. Establish an authority to deal with all aspects of compensations.

6.3.3. Recommendations for Abandoned or Terminated Mines

All the operating mines which are ordered to be closed shall have a closure plan

and the cost of rehabilitation has to be borne by the mining companies. Clearance to

start any new mine by the mining companies shall be linked to a closure-

plan/rehabilitation plan of the abandoned/terminated/closed mines, failing which, the

respective mining company shall not be permitted to start any mining in other areas.

6.3.4. Recommendations for Tippers and the Impact of Transportation

Monitoring cells to be created in Transport Department to implement the guidelines for

tippers.

With regard to using advanced technologies, all the earth moving heavy

machinery operating in the area or the state of Goa shall be fixed with GPS transmitters

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and their locations and movement shall be monitored by a special authority through live

Google.

6.3.5. The Carrying Capacity of the Mining Region and Capping of Production

Holding capacity of the region has to be mandatorily carried out before

permitting any mining activity in the region based on the formula suggested below:

SM= F [(CC)+(HC)+(SP)]

Sustainable mining = factors of carrying capacity + holding capacity +

sustainable period.

This recommendation also calls for the criteria as provided in Appendix VI- 2 to

be followed and the impact assessment of mining transport on the settlement and

assessment of carrying capacity has to be done as per the procedure and steps indicated

in Chapter 5.1.1.4.

A sustainable planning for a mining region plan has to be prepared by the state

govt., after carefully considering the holding capacity of the region, carrying capacity of

the roads and rivers and sustainable period. The mining plan shall also include

rehabilitation plan, as stipulated in minerals concession rules (MCR) 1960 amended in

2000. Determine the ratio of profit /turnover to be paid to the local self-government

(Village Panchayat’s) as compensation.

6.3.6. Recommendation for Regulatory Framework of Environment and Mining

There are many comprehensive legislations in India, currently being enforced in

the field of environment and mining legislations, which deal with the protection of

forests, wildlife, land use, and prevention and control of water, air and noise pollution in

India. There is no dearth of comprehensive legislations and monitoring systems to

regulate mining activities from the environmental angle either. There is however, a lack

of effective enforcement of the legislations. It is therefore recommended that a

centralised agency empowered with the power to implement and monitor the mining

sector needs to be created.

6.3.7. Other Recommendations

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1. Simplify the procedure for obtaining permission for mining and create a

Single Window Clearance mechanism, after fulfilling the requirements

under all statutory laws, rules and regulations.

2. Establish an independent, empowered organisation with all the powers

exercisable (under all the Statutory Laws) by that organisation, for grant

of approvals, and their monitoring and enforcing.

3. It is recommended that a study of agricultural fields affected by mines till

date and remedial measures to revive the fields shall be initiated by the

govt. which shall cover mapping those areas and assess the damage and

the cost of rejuvenation. The cost shall be recovered as “Agriculture

Cess” from mining companies.

4. There is a need to study legal provisions and provide specific provisions

to determine the surface rights of lease areas/ mined areas, after the lapse

of lease period (30 years)/closed leases/terminated leases /abandoned

leases/in valid leases and legal framework to take over such surface areas

for Eco-Tourism, afforestation, rehabilitation, social Forestry and

landscaping, etc.

5. The total consumption of diesel of tippers on the road works out to 3, 04,

14,401 litres of diesel and the SOx emitted is 1009758 Kgs per annum.

There is a need to study the acceptable level of pollution of SOx in air in

the region. The study can also take into consideration other transport

vehicles, private vehicles and tippers and heavy machinery used within

and around mining pits.

6. All miners shall be encouraged to adopt the sustainable mining approach

as detailed in Appendix V.6.

6.4. Conclusion

The approach of this research focused on evolving an environmentally

sustainable direction for the mining scenario in Goa. Specific attention was given in

detailed studies of selected villages in the mining region, and different categories of

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impacts (agriculture, transportation, health, pollution, etc.) was studied in great detail.

All the relevant existing official plans, policies, Acts, legislations, and recommendations

by various expert committees were studied. All this exhaustive list of information and

data was analyzed to summarize the mining scenario not only all across Goa, but

specifically in the selected villages; to articulate a comprehensive set of suggestions and

recommendations; and to guide further action plans, implementation processes and

policies by planners and decision makers engaged in addressing the impacts from iron

ore mining in Goa. This research emphasizes the need for capping mining at a

sustainable level so that it not only benefits the population dependent on the mining

economy, but also protects the state of the natural environment and the health of the

people living and working in the mining regions. The author recommends 25MMT

annual capping for Goa, as detailed in 5.1.5 and 5.1.5.2 (Refer to Table 5.27).

In this regard, this research recognizes the great strides made in reducing

pollution and increasing the health of the natural environment due to the ban on mining

by the recommendations of the Shah Commission. The gains made by this commission

and various other legislations must be taken forward with alternative plans for

abandoned mines, and by having clarity about valid mining leases.

The recommendations in this research are supported by accurate and extensively

surveyed information and data. These may not be the final solutions in themselves, but

provide adequate information and strong research to evolve specific programs and

initiatives. The National and State Governments, local municipalities, and all planners

and decision making authorities can refer to this research and apply the readily available

data and information contained within.

There may be more interconnected issues that require further investigation to

enhance the aims and objectives set forth by this study. But the research contained here

is based on original surveys and investigations, which provide a strong basis for further

studies and applicable local plans in all the villages of the mining areas in Goa or any

other mining/mineral rich region.