Will Goa’s big step to restart scam-hit mining sector work?

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Editor's note: Twenty-eight states, eight union territories and the most pressing environmental conflict in each. Thirty-six is a weekly newsletter by our Chaos team on countless ecosystems in flux across India. You’re reading the fourth issue. Late last week, the Goa government took a noteworthy step that has the potential to bring about a fundamental shift in direction for mining in the coastal state. Despite being historically dominated by private firms, many of which got their leases during the Portuguese rule in the last century, mining in the state could now be dominated by a public sector undertaking, or PSU, that is being set up by the state government. A bill to set up this government-run company was passed in the state legislature last week.  While it is true that public sector entities in the mining sector do not exactly have a spotless record, it is also evident that they are more responsive to democratic concerns since they operate under government control. This factor is important because it is undeniable that this decision is a fallout of the multi-crore mining scam, which …