Politics and economics of mining in Goa

Goa is a minerals rich state with iron ore, manganese and bauxite deposits in various parts of Goa. Mining has been major sources of revenue generation as well as employment generation. Since colonial days of Portuguese rule it has been the source of revenue to the state and corporate as well as employment and unemployment to various sectors of society. Mining industry largely resisted Indian rule in Goa and even succeeded in keeping Portuguese colonial rule intact till 19th December 1961 when Indian government ordered Army intervention and got Goa under Indian rule. The paper is based on critical engagement of the author with mining industry since 2001 soon after China boom led to steep rise in exports of Goa's ore that varied from 35% to 50% of India's export share even though Goa's Geography is just 0.11% of India's land mass. The paper seeks to identify some key trends of the politics and its response to the increasing resistance to mining industry in Goa that led to the Shutdown of mining industry after Shah Commission report was submitted in the Indian Parliament in late 2012.