Lacking infra to check illegal mining: Govt
PTI, PANAJI | 21 October 2011 21:52 IST
Amidst debate on Goa government's failure to check illegal mining, the Mines and Geology department has said that they will be unable to track the iron ore movement in the state for atleast next three months since the infrastructure needed to monitor it would take time.
In an affidavit filed before Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, the department has said that they are contemplating the possibility of installing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags on the trucks and at vital points including jetties, where ore is unloaded in the ship.
"For the installation of the system and making it operational all at one time, on an initial basis for whole of Goa would require not less than three months since it will involve installation of infrastructure, building up of software and training the staff for the supervision at the site," Arvind Lolienkar, Director of Mines and Geology, Goa government, said.
The department which has been accused of ignoring the illegal mining trade conceded before the court that mineral ore transportation is huge to the tune of 48 million tonnes as in 2010-11 which takes place within a radius of 30 kms.
"It is difficult to keep accurate and timely checks on day to day basis on the transportation of Ore," the department has said.
Pitching in for RFIDs, they said this system will make the mineral ore transportation monitoring a full proof system giving no scope for tempering and manipulating the details.
"The system involves installation of a unit at the mine exit weigh-bridge where the truck moving out from the mine will be recorded on the system giving the weight carried by the truck, the time of departure and other incidental details for example the truck number," the affidavit reads.
The truck, when on reaching its next destination would have to give the time of arrival and the quantity it is carrying in it for record.
This RFID system will give details of all the ore that leaves the mine, received at various processing and beneficiation plants and its final destination at the jetty sites, thus covering the entire loop from the mine site to the barge loading jetties, the officials said.
Goa's iron ore trade has been put under scanner by Justice M B Shah Commission, which is expected to submit its report on the illegalities by last week of this month or early next month.
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