The mining scam unfolding in Goa has been throwing up the names of more and more leaders of the Congress and the NCP who have alleged links to the mining business, direct or indirect. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, mines minister for 12 years, has been assured the backing of the Congress amid criticism that he has been shielding those involved in irregularities by the iron ore mining lobby.

Only 13 out of 40 mines, which have been served the order to stop operations for failure to obtain forest or wildlife clearances, were actually in operation, while 27 are non working, according to information provided to Goa Foundation (GF) by mines department under RTI.

Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has submitted a list of 40 mines to GF, which are been directed to suspend operations till they produce approval of Chief Wildlife Warden and forest clearances.

The water shortage faced by the people of Porvorim and Mapusa would be solved by April 2011 with the augmentation of water treatment plant at Assnora, Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao said.

Alemao said that the rise in the requirement of drinking water in the state has led to the situation of water shortage in few parts of the state.

NEW DELHI: Less than a week after Vedanta University's environmental clearance was put on hold, the Centre has suspended the environmental clearance issued to another Vedanta group company for an iron ore mine in North Goa.

The Government on Monday suspended the environmental clearance given to the mine of Anil Agarwal Foundation in North Goa. This is the second setback for the company after the construction work of Vedanta University proposed along Konark-Puri coast in Odisha was put on hold last week.

Around 200 objections have been received against the proposed land acquisition for the four-laning of North Goa stretch of NH 4A connecting Panjim to Belgaum.
After the notification was published in the newspapers, 21 days were given to the people likely to be affected in view of the acquisition of land for the project of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Some believe that National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) has no future in Goa but at least, currently the picture looks promising with 18181 job cards issued and in many talukas it is locals who are on the job rather than migrants.

Unplanned mining blamed for turning monsoon rains into sludge heavy monsoon rains mixed with silt from the mines in North Goa damaged about 100 homes in Bicholim taluka on June 6 and 7. No one died. Survivors said they barely managed to escape in time and lost all their belongings. In the mining belt, silt from the pits dug to extract iron ore is stacked in the open. During

Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat has ruled out reconsideration of the government decision to amend the Goa Panchayat Raj Act empowering the panchayat secretaries.
In an informal chat during his visit to the South Goa District Collectorate this evening, Kamat further said the government is in the process of identifying suitable sites in North and South Goa to set up garbage treatment plants.