Monday, 10 Oct 2011
The Goa Mines and Geology Department has ordered the suspension of two iron ore and bauxite mines which found mention for alleged illegality in the controversial Public Accounts Committee draft report.
Director of Mines Mr Arvind Loliyekar confirmed to The Hindu on Sunday that orders were issued to stop work at two mines operated by Mr Tarcar in south Goa.
One was operated by him through Power of Attorney to the family of mine owner Mr Haider Kasim Khan. Following a dispute between family members, the department ordered suspension of operations as per a lower court order.
In the second case, the family of Mr Janardan Neogi holding PoA had claimed that ore was extracted in excess of the amount specified in the environmental clearance norm issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Mr. Loliyekar said “In both cases, we will conduct a resurvey and verify the complaint of the family members and then decide whether to allow the mine to operate.”
The PAC report said Mr. Tarcar's mines had extracted ore in excess of the environmental clearance norm.
(sourced from thehindu)
Showing posts with label Goa mines department. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goa mines department. Show all posts
Monday, October 10, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
623 PLs for mining leases pending in Goa
Thursday, 06 Oct 2011
PTI reported that State Mines and Geology department has conceded that there are 623 prospecting licences for mining leases pending with them while environmentalists are asserting for cap in the Iron Ore mining in Goa.
A cabinet note moved has mentioned that state has 595 deemed leases, of which 410 applications for renewal are being processed. The department has told the state cabinet that there are 623 prospecting licenses.
The Shah Commission appointed by the Central government and state legislative assembly's Public Accounts Committee is investigating into multi crore mining scam, which has been estimated somewhere around INR 1,200 crore to INR 10,000 crore.
The ministry of Environment and Forest has fixed a moratorium on new mining leases and renewal of old leases since last year onwards asking the state government to frame its mining policy. While environmentalists and state main opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party are pressing for a cap on the iron ore to be tapped from Goa, the mining industry has said that 'any capping would be deterrent for their trade.'
Goa basically has low grade Iron Ore which has received huge demand in the international markets after China boom of 2005 when the neighboring country began building infrastructure for Beijing Olympics. The state which has mining as the biggest industry after the tourism trade, had received INR 1,000 crore in the form of royalty earned on exports. As per the figures furnished on Monday till date between March to September 2011 the state has earned INR 450 crore as a royalty.
Of the twelve talukas, seven talukas has active mines. As per the figures provided by the state government to Shah Commission and there are 90 mining leases and total 54 million tonnes of Ore has been exported from Goa.
(sourced from HindustanTimes)
PTI reported that State Mines and Geology department has conceded that there are 623 prospecting licences for mining leases pending with them while environmentalists are asserting for cap in the Iron Ore mining in Goa.
A cabinet note moved has mentioned that state has 595 deemed leases, of which 410 applications for renewal are being processed. The department has told the state cabinet that there are 623 prospecting licenses.
The Shah Commission appointed by the Central government and state legislative assembly's Public Accounts Committee is investigating into multi crore mining scam, which has been estimated somewhere around INR 1,200 crore to INR 10,000 crore.
The ministry of Environment and Forest has fixed a moratorium on new mining leases and renewal of old leases since last year onwards asking the state government to frame its mining policy. While environmentalists and state main opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party are pressing for a cap on the iron ore to be tapped from Goa, the mining industry has said that 'any capping would be deterrent for their trade.'
Goa basically has low grade Iron Ore which has received huge demand in the international markets after China boom of 2005 when the neighboring country began building infrastructure for Beijing Olympics. The state which has mining as the biggest industry after the tourism trade, had received INR 1,000 crore in the form of royalty earned on exports. As per the figures furnished on Monday till date between March to September 2011 the state has earned INR 450 crore as a royalty.
Of the twelve talukas, seven talukas has active mines. As per the figures provided by the state government to Shah Commission and there are 90 mining leases and total 54 million tonnes of Ore has been exported from Goa.
(sourced from HindustanTimes)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Goa mines dept unable to explain iron ore royalty losses to PAC
Thursday, 03 Mar 2011 By PTI
Goa mines department has failed to explain the royalty loss on almost one crore tonne of iron ore exported between 2003-05. The Goa Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee had questioned the mines department to reason the losses but the department floundered.
Mr Manohar Parrikar chairman of PAC in the absence of proper mechanism, the mines department had let the revenue losses in the form of royalty. He said that “The mines department has shown its inability to explain the revenue losses adding that the Comptroller Auditor General in its report had mentioned about these losses.”
The leader of the Opposition said that the legal mines in the state are not regulated which leads to these issues.
Mr Parrikar added that “Goa government has powers to formulate rules and regulations to control extraction and storage of minerals. If powers are executed then legal mining can be regulated.”
PAC has asked the State Transport Director, Mr Arun Desai to check unlicensed drivers of mining trucks. He claimed that “As per rough estimates, at least 25 per cent of these drivers don’t have licences.”
The Committee has directed the Director General of Police, Mr BS Bassi, to form a squad headed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police to curb the illegalities like overloading by these trucks. Both the departments have been asked to submit the action taken report to PAC as soon as possible.
Mr Parrikar said mining trucks have become a major bone of contention in rural Goa where people are on road, almost every day, complaining about dust pollution and accidents.
Mr Manohar Parrikar chairman of PAC in the absence of proper mechanism, the mines department had let the revenue losses in the form of royalty. He said that “The mines department has shown its inability to explain the revenue losses adding that the Comptroller Auditor General in its report had mentioned about these losses.”
The leader of the Opposition said that the legal mines in the state are not regulated which leads to these issues.
Mr Parrikar added that “Goa government has powers to formulate rules and regulations to control extraction and storage of minerals. If powers are executed then legal mining can be regulated.”
PAC has asked the State Transport Director, Mr Arun Desai to check unlicensed drivers of mining trucks. He claimed that “As per rough estimates, at least 25 per cent of these drivers don’t have licences.”
The Committee has directed the Director General of Police, Mr BS Bassi, to form a squad headed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police to curb the illegalities like overloading by these trucks. Both the departments have been asked to submit the action taken report to PAC as soon as possible.
Mr Parrikar said mining trucks have become a major bone of contention in rural Goa where people are on road, almost every day, complaining about dust pollution and accidents.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
