400 barges, 6000 families in crisis with mine block

PTI, PANAJI | 16 September 2012 18:33 IST

The ship owners in Goa ferrying iron ore from jetties to ports have claimed today that their business was on the brink of crisis after the government suspended mining leases in the state.

"We see bleak future ahead for this industry which has 6,000 families dependent on it," All Goa Barge Owners Association (AGBOA) Atul Jadhav told reporters here today.

Around 400 barges (ships) operate through inland waterways ferrying iron ore from different jetties to both the ports – Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and Panaji Minor port.

The state government, as a part of implementation of Justice M B Shah Commission report on iron ore trade in Goa has suspended licences of all the mines since September 7 and Jadhav feels that due to it, the barge industry was facing a "big ordeal".

However, the state government has not banned the transportation and export of ore that is already lying at the jetties or recently extracted and piled up in the mining leases.

Jadhav said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, during a discussion with them, had claimed that there was one million metric tonnes of ore lying at the jetties and mines.

"But the mining industry claims that seven million metric tonnes of iron ore are piled up at jetties and mines," he added.

The barge owners said that the available ore is not enough to sustain their trade.

AGBOA secretary William D'Costa said that the barge owners had arrived to a consensus that everyone would share the existing cargo, till the situation normalises.

"We have lot of financial commitments. There are loan liabilities to the banks. We have given our vessels and houses as a collaterals which might be attached, if we default in paying installments," D'Costa said.

He urged the government to make arrangements with the banks so that the soft installments could be worked out.


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Much talked and written on mining with war of voices and words - for and against. Every year the against voice is drowned in the noise of machinery, barges and trucks and choked with dust raised in the process or with money flow for silence.

Question is what has iron ore mining gained for Goa and Goans. Jobs, royalty and what else? What it all add up? Assuming only Goan people involved in jobs and business? This big question better be answered by all learned.

Roughly calculate what exports made and how much is earnings on iron ore trade. Iron ore exports is between 120 to 180 lakh tons till 2004. Prices were low for the traditional contracts but some did business on spot prices. The contract price started collapsing from 2008 and free for all and entry of traders. Between 2005 and 2012 approximately 30 crore to exported. Price hit more than 150 $ from 2009 to 2012 for high grade material. Even low grade of 52 iron got price of 80 $.

What is mining and transport cost in Goa mining? It not more than 20 $ per ton including payments made to make things happen. Only recently, price has come down to 70 $ but. So in all these years those who exported made at least 20 $ per ton as profit. Other is cost including royalty, wages, transport payment and so on. 30 crore tons makes it 6000 crore $. Who has taken this money and what has Goa benefitted from, except few tidbits under social responsibility noise.

Not even asking if ore exported legal or not but so much money came in and what purpose has it served?

- francis pereira, margao | 22 nd September 2012 10:48

 

Correctluy said Mr. Ratikant and Mr. Fernandes.

I written comment already on other news of barge owners. Let ask in last six years how many new barges and who funded by govt banks, cop banks( the best bakra) private bank and finance companies. We can distribute who owners are - 20 are from defeated politician. How they beame barge owners? becuase od dadagiri. for them easy money and banks coperative banks are like own pockets

rest barge owners- did you just built barges? What is track record. east coast to gujarat you run at whitele where there is malai. if you made wrong decision like big poltician who are sitting homw, you go sit at home also.

- fransic pereia, margao | 17 th September 2012 15:01

 

One should take survey of all the barge owners and their employees. Goan employers and employees should be identified. Because 'Economy' is not as important as the 'Living' of the natives. The Chief Minister along with the council of Ministers has to assess and take the decision.

- Damodar Bale, East Brunswick,NJ,USA. | 17 th September 2012 05:51

 

Barge owners are also the culprits and the partners in crime with this Iligal mine owners. Why should the government compensate them? Did they ask or took the permission from the government before buying any barges or obtaining any loan? When the money was flowing tinto their bank accounts they were enjoying their lives with the illegal Mining transportation. They all knew about the illegal mining and therefore these barge owners should also be held responsible for illegal mine extract transportation. Let the banks attach their barges and auction them. And these 6000 families will be starved? How many goans are dependent on barge transport business? Let the mining lobby return 35000 crores and if need be the actual goans who are suffering could be compensated. I request Barge owners association to come forward and name the dubious mining traders and assist the government to recover the ill gotten Rs 35000 crores from mining goons and then demand the compensation to their families. But, they should be prepared to suffer for their part in the crime if illegal mine extracts.

- Ratikant, UAE | 16 th September 2012 20:29

 

With all the wealth the Miners have made illegaly & stashed, both In India and Abroad, they could buy all the barges /trucks and also feed all the families affected ,for another generation.

The Miners must pay for all the illegalities, and also pay punitive damages for their "scorched earth" policies.

- N.Fernandes, London | 16 th September 2012 19:13

 

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