Opp grills Govt over 200-cr loss on mining royalty

PTI, PANAJI | 02 February 2011 13:02 IST

Damu Naik in Goa Assembly

The BJP-led Opposition today cornered the Goa government over an estimated Rs 200-crore royalty loss to the state exchequer in the last ten years due to illegal mining in the state.

BJP member Damodar Naik told the State Assembly that ore worth Rs 2,000 crore has been exported illegally from the state.

"If you calculate 10 per cent royalty on the ore that means, the state has lost Rs 200 crore which could have been earned as a royalty," he said, adding, 53 lakh MT ore has been exported (unaccounted).

To these allegations, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the state government has appointed two teams to assess the royalty evasion for last ten years.

"Till date, 287 cases have been assessed and amount of Rs 9.48 crores have been recovered from them," he said.

Congress member Dayanand Narvekar attacked the government saying it was not serious about the issue of illegal mining and out of 100 mines, 75 do not have the required consent.

"Goa Pollution Control Board had sought clarification from forest department, which has been held back since for last one year," Narvekar said.

Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar alleged that mining is done just next to Selaulim water reservoir and also in forest areas.

The five-day long winter session of the State Legislative Assembly session began on Monday.


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May be there are so many allegations against the CM of Karnataka but Mr Yeduvirappa-the CM of Karantaka deserves all the appreciation for banning all the mining activities in the Karnataka State! Will the CM of Goa will ever be able to take such decisions in the interest of the State?

Or only after the whole land is completely devastated--the mining will automatically come to a halt ??? ---Till then good time to loot and plunder the land and its people....

- james silva, margao | 09 th February 2011 15:53

 

To, N Fernandes. Not heard from you for long time now, have you got fed up of the crap situation here in Goa?

- John D Souza, Margoa - Goa | 06 th February 2011 09:38

 

When nearly all the Goa Legislature MLA`s,including Mummy,have mining interests,it should come as no surprise.

Even their families are into mining.

Churchill and his brother Joaquim are the biggest of these corrupt Miners.

Using their Political clout and corrupt money , they have carved up Goa to suit their Inidan and Foreign Bank Balances.

We should consider this Mining as the "RED GOLD RUSH".

Dubai is where a lot of the money is and has been stashed up & re-invested in Sleazy hotels and new developments.

- N,Fernandes-London, London | 03 rd February 2011 21:17

 

I dreamt perhaps, that, more than 300 applications have been received by the government when everyone is crying foul, over mining leases, no control over and mode of collection of royalty/dues, illegal mining, vested interests versus interests of governance,etc.

Added to this is the subject report, that even the dam which took many years to build and function and endless apprehensions about its safety, that mining might take its toll on its very structure. Instead of processing and reactivating mining leases should not the government keep on hold every new thing and take stock of the situation. It's a vicious cycle, mining provides employment, fear of loss of jobs keeps the mining going, the balancing act between need of mining as against forest cover and environment, water table and revenue to the State. When and how will there be an end in sight?

- Ludovico, Old-Goa | 03 rd February 2011 10:39

 

The whole mining itself is a very serious danger and threat to the life and property of the common man here in Goa.The destruction--- it is causing to the environments, water-bodies, green cover, forests, roads, health of the masses, etc is so enormous---it cant be compensated!

The dust pollution in the mining areas is causing miseries to the masses and the inflow of migrant labour is causing demographical problems which will not have easy solutions.

The royalty earning of mere Rs. 500 crores is a pittance compared to the earnings made by the mining barons and it would never compensate for the irreversible damage it is causing to the whole State..

The day the mining will be stopped---will be a golden day for the State...........

- vishwas prabhudesai, loliem | 02 nd February 2011 16:46

 

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