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Goa freeze on mining
In a late decision, the Goa Government issues orders to all 90-odd operational mines to suspend ore extraction until verification of all relevant documents.
The order issued by Principal Secretary (mining) RK Verma was issued late Monday evening and will come into effect from midnight.
“It is necessary in order to scrutinise clearances obtained by the mining lease holders and allowing continuation of mining without proper scrutiny and verification of requisite approval,” Verma has said in his order.
The order, however, allows the trade and transportation of ore already mined and existing in the lease hold area, in transit or stored or stocked on jetties, which it specifically says shall not be affected.
The order comes barely two working days after the report of the Justice Shah Commission of Inquiry into Goa’s mining industry excesses was tabled in Parliament pegging the illegal mining scam to the tune of `35,000 crore in Goa’s 90 odd operational mines.
The release of the report prompted civil society to erupt in rage and even blame incumbent chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who is also the mines minister was ‘supporting’ the tainted mining industry in the State.
The Shah Commission blamed former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and other bureaucrats in mining-linked Government agencies linked to his mining ministry as the main architects of the illegal mining scam, along with major mining industry players.
State Government agencies — the mines and geology department, forest department, pollution control board as well as Central Government agencies namely those functioning under the aegis of the Union Ministry for Mines and Environment and Forests — have all be named in the report.
In a late decision, the Goa Government issues orders to all 90-odd operational mines to suspend ore extraction until verification of all relevant documents.
The order issued by Principal Secretary (mining) RK Verma was issued late Monday evening and will come into effect from midnight.
“It is necessary in order to scrutinise clearances obtained by the mining lease holders and allowing continuation of mining without proper scrutiny and verification of requisite approval,” Verma has said in his order.
The order, however, allows the trade and transportation of ore already mined and existing in the lease hold area, in transit or stored or stocked on jetties, which it specifically says shall not be affected.
The order comes barely two working days after the report of the Justice Shah Commission of Inquiry into Goa’s mining industry excesses was tabled in Parliament pegging the illegal mining scam to the tune of `35,000 crore in Goa’s 90 odd operational mines.
The release of the report prompted civil society to erupt in rage and even blame incumbent chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who is also the mines minister was ‘supporting’ the tainted mining industry in the State.
The Shah Commission blamed former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and other bureaucrats in mining-linked Government agencies linked to his mining ministry as the main architects of the illegal mining scam, along with major mining industry players.
State Government agencies — the mines and geology department, forest department, pollution control board as well as Central Government agencies namely those functioning under the aegis of the Union Ministry for Mines and Environment and Forests — have all be named in the report.
