CM to crackdown on illegallity, but supports mining

PTI, MUMBAI | 08 July 2012 12:54 IST

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday asserted that he was determined to crack down on illegal mining activity in his state.

However, he ruled out a total ban on mining in Goa.

Speaking at a function in Mumbai, Parrikar said that he has already closed down five such illegal ones and more would follow in the coming months.

He said he would give a hearing to the affected parties. He said that Goa had curbed mining activity significantly, but a total ban was not feasible.

"More than 50% of Goa's population depends on mining," he added.

With the aim of reducing traffic congestion and easing pressure on existing roads, Goa would have dedicated roadways for trucks carrying minerals from these mines, the chief minister added.

Parrikar added that there was no problem of mining in the Western Ghats, which were granted heritage status by the UNESCO recently.


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Matter of mining and mining dumps is looking like taking decisions without detail study. Relying on AG saying no environment permission required is not on right footing.

The dumps needed to be quantified and mapped. There would be some records from the returns filed to Indian Mines Bureau and Mine Safety department. Each mining company can reconcile how much dumps are their own working. Where are the dumps located. On whose land? If government or forest land, has permission take and any rent paid. Centre permission is required. Do mine companies not hide behind central bodies when an accident happens? Even if death take place they say it is not state government job. Then everyone keep quiet.

I had a look at some dumps with retired peoples from mining companies. Many places trees are grown. Can these dumps be allowed to mine just like that? Saying they are from old workings sufficient? Will rehandling them not use heavy machine and cause sound, dust pollution? It is like mining again. For each company this should be counted within the EC limit prescribed. They should not be just auctioned to traders as will cause much transport on roads.

I remember Goa had problems when mining export was 150 lakh tons and riverside peoples and people in Sanvordem, etc had so much problem. Then broad gauge brought extra 30 lakh tons increasing misery and people were paid money to keep mouth shut. Then after 2004, many many mines started and truck movement increase so much that people claim 20000 trucks are in mining industry of Goa. Roads remain same except for some bridges, culverts built. New bypass road will hopefully avoid towns and villages but ore has to come to same point at river. Will this change?

No will be answer. Then why run after pushing more and more ore for exports? Solution is regulate quantity. EC should be as per damage caused by opening ground, removing trees, divert streams. This should consider. If 1 lakh is mined from dump then company should not mine that much which is needed to produce 1 lakh tons. From old reports, I read 2 tons are needed for 1 ton of raw ore which gets further reduced after process. So take starting quantity for EC limit. That is 3 lakh tons for 1 lkh ton product with correction for loss in processing. This way mining will get controlled.

- francis pereira, margao | 11 th July 2012 10:32

 

It may be difficult to stop Mining totally without creating some alternate job opportunities...But the need is to get higher share of the Mining loot for development of the State...The Centre has made the Legislations to impose taxes on the Mining but no powers to the state even to change the Royalty...The present Royalty of about 700 crores is a pittance compared to the turn over in Mining that is over 36,000 crores with profit margins may be half that amount available for share and distribution among all those who control the activity...Even Shah Commission has stated this in it's report...huge profits in mining allow manipulation ---It is time the mining allied activities like Barge transportaion, loading inland waterways transportation, mining truck permits, their registration etc need to be reviewed and increased substantially to force a sizable chunk of the loot going presently in few pockets...Time to act or in coming few years nothing will be left.....

- vishwas prabhudesai, loliem | 08 th July 2012 17:52

 

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