The social arm of the Catholic Church in India has expressed its concerns that the level of mining taking place in Goa may be a threat to the ecologically-vulnerable Western Ghats area, and that the government’s policy of mining, deforestation and eco-tourism is putting a strain on the environment of Goa. It is felt that this level of strain at the current time may have lasting consequences for the region.

The forests of the Western Ghats are considered to be some of the most picturesque and productive in all of India and a huge contributor to the region’s biodiversity. Mining for iron and manganese ore, two resources that are significant to India’s economy, is believed to be putting a major strain on this sector of the environment.

There are currently approximately one hundred mining leases held legally in all of Goa, and on a map of the region the majority of these leases can be seen as rings around three of the region’s significant wildlife sanctuaries. The executive director of the Council of Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) argues that a rethink of the Goa government’s policy is essential if these sanctuaries are to remain intact.

The line being taken by the Council is notable for its stridency; how the Goan authorities will respond to it remains to be seen. However, the fact that a need to act has been seen in such sharp relief must be taken as a demonstration of deeply-held feeling among not just the CSJP, but the millions of people in India who share their stance on environmental issues.