6 arrested for illegal mining
PTI, PANAJI | 26 March 2012 20:28 IST
Goa police have arrested 16 people for illegal iron ore mining. Six persons were arrested at Morlem village, 40 km from Panaji, on Saturday, and 12 more were arrested on Sunday.
Police Inspector Siddhanth Shirodkar said the ore was stored at Cotombi, a village on the banks of Mandovi river, from where it was exported by ships.
Officials said the plot where the iron ore was being mined illegally had been given to the some locals after their villages got inundated in floods.
Kamlesh Bandekar, an activist of Bharat Swabhiman Trust of Baba Ramdev, had complained to the police in this regard.
Several trucks ferrying the ore, driven by migrants from Jharkhand and Bihar, were confiscated during the police action. The plot owner too was arrested, police said.
Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, who represents the area in the Assembly, demanded in the House on Monday that the company which bought this ore needed to be investigated.
In responde, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today announced that a major crackdown will be launched on mining traders who were fuelling illegal activities in the state.
Parrikar said that all those involved in illegal mining industry would be jailed.
"Not a single licence of mining traders would be renewed during the forthcoming financial year," said the Chief Minister, who also holds mining portfolio.
He said that each licence of the trader would be studied on case-to-case basis.
Parrikar admitted that severe mess in the state mines and geology department was helping traders working illegally in the state.
"Before March 31, I am going to make changes in the mining department," he announced.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the traders were registered even when the election code of conduct was in effect.
He said that in future only Goans would be allowed to be registered as traders in the mining sector.
Goa has been facing an onslaught of illegal mining which is being investigated by Justice M B Shah commission appointed by the Centre.
The illegal mining industry in Goa is estimated to be between Rs 1,200-10,000 crore.
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