The Google Earth application could be effectively used to track down illegal mining activity in Goa, a noted environmentalist said on Wednesday.

"You get all the mines very clearly on Google Earth software. Everybody can see and find out how many of them are illegal," Madhav Gadgil told a convention at Dona Paula in Panaji.

Regional Plan 2021, a futuristic document prepared by the State Government, shows legal borders of the mines and "if we compare the Plan with Google images, we can come to know about the illegal mining," he said.

He was speaking at the convention on 'Environment and Development', organised by Centre for Environment Education, an NGO, and the Goa Golden Jubilee Development Council.

Gadgil said every citizen of Goa has a right to ask Government about the illegal mining in the coastal state. The veteran green activist questioned the alacrity shown by the mine owners to extract iron ore and export it.

"Why are they in such a great hurry? Ore reserve is not going to be depleted, it will remain below the earth and demand for it will continue." Goa has 100-odd mining sites and companies export 45 million metric tonnes of iron ore annually.

Gadgil said the mine owners are raking in huge profits. "Greed for money has percolated down to every strata of the society. Everybody is demanding money - be it a Minister or a village panchayat member," he lamented.