The 'Report on Wildlife sanctuaries and eco sensitive zones of Goa' was prepared by Rajiv Yaduvanshi, who is secretary mines and is presently attached to the chief minister's office.

The report was compiled after conducting field inspections and the high-level committee, which drafted the document, included the concerned district collectors, director of mines, director of tourism and chief conservator of forests, among others.

Incidentally, Goa government's draft mineral policy, which was tabled in the monsoon session of the state assembly, also advocates mining in 'close vicinity' of wildlife sanctuaries.

Chief minister Digambar Kamat and several members of his cabinet have been in the opposition's cross hairs during the last couple of assembly sessions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming that the government was sheltering rampant illegal mining in the state.

Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar had also alleged that nearly 18 percent of Goa's 33 million tonnes iron, manganese and bauxite mining exports were fed by illegal mining. There are presently more than 100 mining leases in the state.