Panaji, Aug 6 - All mines located near wildlife sanctuaries in Goa will be closed within seven days, Goa Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira said here Thursday.

Speaking at the budget session of the Goa legislative assembly, Sequeira said that his ministry had received several complaints from the forest department, which said that there were several mines functioning within one kilometre of a wildlife sanctuary.

'The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has received letters from the forest department mentioning certain mines located within a kilometre of wildlife sanctuaries,' Sequeira told the house.

The minister however did not specify the exact number of mines in the vicinity of the wildlife sanctuaries.