Mines shut; but exports 'open'
PTI, PANAJI | 11 September 2012 22:57 IST
The Goa government, which had suspended licenses of all the 90 mining leases pending verification of documents, has allowed transportation and trade of ore already mined and existing either in lease hold area, in transit or stored at jetties.
In pursuance of the Justice MB Shah Commission report, the government suspended the lease-licenses yesterday.
The order signed by Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya has mentioned that the suspension of mining operations shall not affect trade and transportation of ore already mined and existing in the lease hold area, in transit or stored or stocked on jetties.
The lease holders or traders who have procured such quantities of ore shall report the exact location of existence of ore, within a period of seven days to Director of Mines and Geology, the order said.
The Mines Department has also been asked to form teams for inspection of quantities of ore lying at the lease hold areas or such place as mentioned by lease holders or traders.
"The team members shall be randomly selected from mines, forest and revenue departments (of Goa government)," the order reads.
The state government initiated action last evening following recommendations of the Shah Commission, which had claimed that these leases were illegal as they did not have the permission of National Board for Wildlife.
However, anti-mining activists have strongly objected to the move of the state government to allow export of extracted mineral ore.
According to Adv Satish Sonak, all mines are illegal thus the mineral ore extracted also becomes illegal as per the Shah Commission report.
Since illegal mining has been described as a theft by the Commission, the stolen goods need to be seized by the state government and not allowed to be lifted.
"Allowing to transport and export it amounts to abetment to crime", quipped Adv Sonak.
Drop a comment
Latest News
- Deficit budget presented, but no taxes! Each Goan has a Rs 1.46 lakh loan!!
- Dr Suresh Amonkar loses Covid battle, 8th death in Goa
- SC again stops Goa mining from 16 March, orders fresh ECs & recover dues
- NGT orders 25 miners to appear before MoEF, face closure threat
- Fearing another attempt of arrest, Digambar seeks interim bail
- Goa police summons Ex-CM Digambar in mining scam
- Properties of Digambar and Churchill attached in Louis Berger scam
- Liquor shops in midland, hinterland to shut down, not towns or coastal
- Church thanks BJP Govt, asks why criticised for its contacts with Govt
- Kejriwal names Elvis AAP’s CM-candidate
Mining
- SC again stops Goa mining from 16 March, orders fresh ECs & recover dues
- NGT orders 25 miners to appear before MoEF, face closure threat
- Fearing another attempt of arrest, Digambar seeks interim bail
- Goa police summons Ex-CM Digambar in mining scam
- Dr Claude supports AAP stand on mining, with objections
- New SC order likely to halt mining of 40 leases, until…
- Centre to hold all-state meet in Goa on illegal mining
- Caurem tribals march to Panaji, approaching SC to expose illegalities
- Will Govt probe both Ravindra and Fomento, if it was a bribe?
- Was crop damage compensation to Caurem shown as extortion by Fomento?
