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Mining

Centre urges action plan to curb illegal mining in Goa

Navhind Times 28 April, 2010
PANAJI:
Operation of illegal mining is comparatively less in Goa in comparison to states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and others.

While in Goa nine cases of illegal mining were reported in 2009, in Andhra Pradesh at least 11,591 cases of illegally mining were reported and fine of Rs 2676.39 lakh imposed. In Karnataka, 1687 cases were reported and fine of Rs 3900 lakh imposed, while in Gujarat 5416 cases reported and fine of Rs 8085.70 lakh slapped.

A statement of the Union mines ministry records that 17 states have been detected with illegally mining. The statement procured by The Navhind Times said that in 2009, nine cases of illegal mining were reported in Goa.

The state director of mines and geology, Mr Arvind D Loliyeker denied the nine illegal mining cases, but said that in the last two years six cases of illegal mining activities have been reported in Ambeli of Sattari taluka and in Netorlim of Sanguem taluka.

The Union Minister for Mines and Development of North-Eastern Region, Mr B K Handique informed that in Goa 475 cases of illegal mining have been detected in the three years from 2006, fine of Rs 16.72 lakh was imposed and 458 vehicles seized. The statement has been reported to the Lok Sabha on April 20.

The statement further stated that the central government had amended the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, to empower the state governments to take action against illegal mine minerals, and confiscate illegal minerals, tools, equipment and vehicles. The state governments have also been asked to frame separate rules under the Mines and Mineral Act for curbing illegal mining.

The statement also said the state governments have been requested by the Centre to prepare an action plan using modern technology to curb illegally mining. Further a coordination-cum-empowered committee has been set up to ensure elimination of delays in grant of mineral concessions.

Separately eight task force teams were set up in the Indian Bureau of Mines which conducted inspections in 106 mines in endemic areas and suspended operations in 60 mines.

As Goa mining industry braces itself for the amended mineral policy to be announced shortly, Mr Loliyeker is hoping that this year’s mining trend would continue in the next season.
“In the form of royalty, surface rent, dead rent relating to major and minor minerals, the state government has collected Rs 291.47 crore for the period of 2009-10, against Rs 34.50 crore collection last year,” he said.

He said the increase collection is attributed to royalty base change from tonnage base to ad valorem base. If this trend continues, the mining department expects to collect over Rs 350 crore in the next season.

Though applications for licenses are piling up with the mines director, mining licences have not been issued for the past 10 years. However, prospect licences have been issued to assess the availability of ore at a particular identified place, where the survey is made to know that ore content body exists, after following all the stringent procedures for issuing a mining lease, he said.

He said the Rs 500 crore announced in the state budget for mining infrastructure would go into constructing new roads to clear bottlenecks at Tiramol, Quepem and Rivona junction, among the initial plans.

Mining

Centre urges action plan to curb illegal mining in Goa

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