Goa's CM Digambar Kamat Exposed Yet Again: Union Mines Ministry Says, 50% of Mines Are Illegal !!!!

Contradicting Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat's claim that there was no illegal mining in the state, the Union Mines Ministry has confirmed illegalities in nearly 50 percent of the operational mines.

In a letter, dated Oct 25, Joint Secretary, Mines G.Srinivas told state Mines Secretary S. Kumaraswamy to shore up measures to curb illegal mining in the state, rocked by a mega illegal mining scam, which the opposition has pegged at Rs.25,000 crore.

"Taken on a mine level basis, 44 mines had had exceeded the said 20 percent target production limits," Srinivas has said in his letter. Goa has nearly 100 operational open cast iron ore mines.

The letter confirming illegal and excessive mining in Goa comes on the heels of constant denials by Kamat - the minister of mines for 12 years - that illegal mining is marginal.

The Congress led coalition government in Goa has come under fire from the opposition over the scam.

The union mines ministry has also asked Goa's department of mines and geology (DMG) to conduct special field trips to establish whether mining in Goa's 100 odd operational mines is being conducted in accordance with the provisions of the forest conservation laws.

Anti mining agitators have complained that a majority of the mining operations fringing forest and wild life sanctuaries in Goa are brazenly flouting environment and forest norms.

"The ministry is of the view that mining operations should take place only with appropriate clearances, including, wherever required, under Forest (Conservation) Act 1980. In order to ensure compliance, you may like to issue directions to field units of the DMG to undertake the requisite inspections including follow up earlier inspections, so that there are no violations in this regard," Srinivas wrote.

"The DMG may also simultaneously prepare a list of such mining leases that have sought renewal but are pending environment and forest clearances and are operating under deemed extension, to ensure that such mines adhere to a mining plan," he said.

The mines ministry has also asked the state government to keep track and maintain an inventory of low grade iron ore reject dumps, which in the recent past were being illegally excavated and exported to China, which had opened markets to low grade iron ore to fuel its infrastructure projects.

To check large scale transportation of illegal ore, the union ministry has also asked the state to evolve a system of transit passes during transportation to ensure that the ore being ferries was legitimately extracted.

"In respect of operating mines, since an approved mining plan document is available with the state government, it is also necessary for the state government to introduce a check on the source of the ore and to introduce a system for allowing movement of minerals only through issue of transit passes after ensuring that not only royalty is paid for the mineral sought to be transported, but also after ensuring that the total minerals moved are accounted through the approved mining plan," the letter said.

Goa exported 54 million tons of iron ore in the last fiscal.

Raising the dust on illegal mining in Goa

By Joseph Zuzarte Only nine of the 90 active mining leases in Goa appear to be valid, preliminary investigations by the Justice MB Shah Commission reveal. The rest have been exploiting a legal loophole to extract upto 54 million metric tonnes of iron ore per year. Joseph Zuzarte reports on the dust that is, finally, being raised in the state about illegal mining The arrival of the Justice MB Shah Commission, set up to inquire into illegal mining in the country, in Goa in September has opened up the proverbial can of worms. Interacting informally with the media on the sidelines of his meetings with Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, and Chief Secretary Sanjiv Srivastava, members of the commission have revealed that preliminary investigations prima facie indicate that only nine mining leases out of a total of 336 in Goa, have valid licenses to operate. Considering that there are around 90 active mining leases in the state, this implies that around 90% of the mining leases in Goa are being operated illegally. What’s more, of even these nine valid mining leases, some are said to be operating without the mandatory clearance from the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) required for carrying out mining within 10 km of a protected area. Though this is preliminary information, the unearthing of the ambiguities under which most of the mines in Goa operate following the visit of Justice Shah and other members of his Commission to some of the largest mining areas in Goa last week – the visits are still going on – has the potential to deal a deathblow to mining operations in Goa. The findings of this same Shah Commission, which had also inquired into the illegal mining at Bellary in Karnataka, led to Karnataka Lok Ayukta’s damning report against the Yedyurappa government and the arrest of mining magnate and Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy and his associates only recently. According to information provided by the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA), 54.45 million metric tonnes of mineral ore were exported from Goa in 2010-11, the highest by any state in the country. In FY 2009-2010, 45.68 million metric tonnes were exported. Most of this is iron ore, with a small percentage of manganese and bauxite (less than 20%). Of the 54.45 million metric tonnes, 48.93 million metric tonnes were sent to China, followed by 3.4 million metric tonnes to Japan. The ore was also exported to South Korea, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Thailand, Netherlands, Romania and Italy. Though most of this ore is of Goan origin, a small percentage comes from neighbouring Karnataka. In comparison, in 1995-96, 15.12 million metric tonnes were exported. The nearly four-fold growth in exports has been largely caused by the insatiable demand for ore from China. Catering to this demand has led to an unprecedented boom in mining in Goa and consequently all legalities have been thrown to the winds in the rush to excavate the iron ore and export it. It’s been a win-win situation for many – the mining lease owners, owners of lands next to the mining leases, transporters of the ore and, most of all, the politicians and bureaucrats who have facilitated the large-scale mining by bending the rules and turning a blind eye to the flouting of all laws. The history of the mining leases To really understand what has happened, you need to go back in time a little, to the pre-1961 period when Goa – then known as Estado de India – was ruled by the Portuguese. At the invitation of the then colonial government, mineral prospectors from Japan surveyed the state and discovered huge reserves of iron ore, manganese and bauxite, mostly in the interior hilly areas of the tiny territory (Goa admeasures 3,720 sq km) in the foothills of the Western Ghats. The then colonial government consequently granted mining concessions in specified areas to explore and extract the mineral ore. In all, 336 mining leases were granted. Only a few were excavated over the years and many remained idle for want of demand because the iron ore was low-grade. Though the Indian army invaded Goa in December 1961 and ‘liberated’ the territory from Portuguese rule, the status quo was maintained on these mining concessions and they were allowed to operate. It was only in May 1987 that the union government converted them into mining leases through an act of Parliament. In 1987, 336 lease holders applied for renewals of their leases and were renewed for 10 years at a time. But when these came up for renewal in 2007, only nine were renewed and notified by the union government under the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. The approval period, initially for 10 years, has now been increased to 20 years, so the mines renewed in 2007 are valid till 2027. Although only nine mining leases have been renewed, in reality there are around 90 mining leases which are being openly operated and which have exported the nearly 54.45 million metric tonnes of ore. This happened because of a legal loophole: lease holders whose applications for renewal have been pending since 2007, took advantage of a clause that their leases are deemed valid till the government decides either way on their applications for renewal of licenses. This ambiguity led Justice Shah to pointedly ask the state authorities during his meeting with them on September 17, why mining companies were allowed to carry out mining without securing the requisite renewals. He also observed that the authorities could have fixed a timeframe to decide about the applications for renewal. Talking to the media after Justice Shah’s meeting with him, the Chief Secretary of Goa, the top bureaucrat, said, “We did have a meeting with the Shah Commission, in which a few queries were raised. We will take all necessary steps to stop illegal mining in the state.” That, however, could only be the tip of the iceberg. There are indications that one of the first high-profile casualties of the Shah Commission’s visit to Goa could be the sprawling Dempo Mines in Bicholim taluka, now owned by Sesa Resources, which in turn is owned by Vedanta. The Shah Commission, in the meeting with Chief Secretary Sanjiv Srivastava, raised questions regarding the transfer and operation of mining leases operated by the Sesa Group which were bought out by the Vedanta-owned Sesa Group in June 2009 from VS Dempo and Company. Justice Shah has asked if the leases formerly operated by VS Dempo and Co Pvt Ltd have been transferred to Sesa Resources under Rule 37 of the Mineral Concession Rules 1960 after necessary permissions from the central and state governments. This is one of the mines that Justice Shah personally inspected last week. During his visit he inspected all documents and discovered that the Goa government had allowed mining in these leases without seeking permission from the centre to transfer the lease to the new company. Article 37 A also states that the government’s consent on the transfer of lease has to take place within three months from the date of application. The Sesa buyout of Dempo happened on June 12, 2009, more than two years ago. The Shah Commission members are currently inspecting all the mines operating in Goa and have formed a number of teams comprising members from the union government and state officials to fan out all over the territory and verify all the documents. A clearer picture will emerge when they submit their findings after 45 days. But on the other hand, if all these mines operating without licenses are now stopped, it will be a deathblow for the mining industry in Goa and have far-reaching consequences. Justice Shah along with other members of his Commission held a public hearing on Saturday, September 17, at the Secretariat, seat of the Goa government. The large pro-mining lobby came to the public hearing in strength and occupied most of the available space in the conference hall, all but shutting out those against mining. Whenever the anti-mining lobby tried to make a point, the pro-mining lobby shouted them down. The pro-mining lobby had one simple demand – legalise all illegal mining because the livelihood of thousands depends on it. To which Justice Shah, in his cool and calm manner, simply observed that legalising illegal mining was not within his jurisdiction. The findings of his Commission will be presented in a report to the central and state governments who will then decide whether to take any action. He reiterated that his findings are not binding and are only recommendatory in nature. However, in Bellary, the findings of the same Shah Commission were used by the Lok Ayukta, which led to the closure of all mining activities there. A similar stoppage of all mining in Goa will have many ripple effects. For example, because of the boom in mining over the last few years, there are now around 22,000 trucks involved in the transportation of ore to the loading jetties, from where the ore is transported in barges to the ports; there are 357 barges operating at present – up from 136 barges in 1995-96. And that’s not counting the people actually working the mines and other ancillary services, all of whom now face an uncertain future. Growing opposition There was a time not too long ago when nobody in Goa would have dared raise their voice against mining activities. Anybody who did was simply smothered, isolated and turned into a social outcast for daring to stand up to the mighty. In fact the first chief minister of Goa after the state was ‘liberated’ from 450 years of Portuguese rule in 1961, Dayanand Bandodkar, was himself a mining baron. He held absolute sway over Goa till his death in the mid-’70s, after which his daughter Shashikala Kakodkar became chief minister and stayed in office till the early-’80s. The media too was partially owned by mining houses or those sympathetic to the mining lobby. Only the most sanitised, pro-mining reports ever appeared in the press, therefore, until more national dailies arrived in Goa a few years ago, along with a number of local, cable-based TV channels. Now hardly a week goes by without reports of people’s opposition to mining activities. The real game-changer, though, was the arrival of mass tourism following the Commonwealth Heads of Government retreat in Goa in 1983, which put the state on the international tourism map. Over the years tourism has grown steadily and in 2008 emerged as the largest industry in Goa, knocking mining off the top spot it had occupied for decades, ever since the Portuguese awarded mining leases back in the 1950s. Nowadays people are no longer scared to raise their voice against mining. In the course of mining over the last five-six decades, mineral-rich mountains have simply disappeared, leaving behind huge mining pits, entire villages and communities completely destroyed. What was worse is that very little of the money earned by the big mining firms like the Dempos, Salgaocars, Chowgules, Timblos, Bandekars etc was pumped back into the decimated villages. A benign mining policy ensured that the state too earned a negligible amount as royalty from the minerals extracted. Resentment against this exploitative situation has been building up for years and, with the aid of a few committed activists like Claude Alvares of the Goa Foundation and the new media, this resentment has finally come to the surface. A few months ago, for example, villagers in south Goa’s Quepem taluka halted all mining activities in a lease which involved the excavation of a huge mountain locally known as Dev Dongor (mountain of the gods) because it was sought to be operated without proper clearances. Claude Alvares’ Goa Foundation has been at the legal forefront against illegal mines. In September the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court issued notices to three major mines which are operating in the buffer zone around wildlife sanctuaries. In December 2004 the Supreme Court had mandated that no mines can be operated in a 10-km buffer zone around wildlife sanctuaries. But the Goa government – the current Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has family links with mining barons; Kamat has also been the mines minister for the last 11 years– has sought a zero-km buffer zone around the wildlife sanctuaries of Goa as a special case, a proposal unlikely to be granted by the union environment ministry. There are six wildlife protected areas in Goa, all in the Western Ghats and its foothills. The northernmost is the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. A little to its south is the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, followed by the Mollem National Park, the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and the southernmost Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary. The tiny Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary in central Goa is surrounded by huge mining pits. The Mhadei is named after the Mhadei river, often described as the lifeline of north Goa because it supplies most of the drinking water in the north; the river originates in the Ghats there. The Mhadei downstream becomes the Mandovi river which is also fed by a number of other smaller rivers like the Volvonti and Surla which also originate in the Ghats. The Khandepar river originates in the Mollem National Park and feeds the Opa water treatment plant which supplies water to most parts of central Goa including the capital Panjim. The Netravali Sanctuary is where the water for the Selaulim Dam originates. There are a large number of mines in the vicinity of the Selaulim Dam The Chapoli Dam which supplies water to the southern-most parts of Goa receives its supplies from rivers which also originate in the Netravali and Cotigao forests. Because of the large number of mines in the vicinity of the Dudhsagar-Khandepar river system which feeds the Opa water works, there is a perennially high level of turbidity in the water arriving there. Following a directive from the MoEF earlier this year, 41 mines which operate in the buffer zone of protected areas were issued notices to obtain fresh environmental and forest clearances. However, only seven reverted with the required documents and their licences were renewed. The fate of the remaining 34 mines now hangs in the balance. Besides the notices from the forest department of the Goa government, the Goa legislative assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, headed by the (BJP) leader of the opposition Manohar Parikar (a former CM) also issued, earlier in September, notices to 46 mines asking them about non-fulfillment of conditions for environmental clearance, including the mandatory NOCs under the Forest Conservation Act, certificates from the Chief Wildlife Warden and under the Air and Water Pollution Act. This effectively covers half the mining leases currently in operation in Goa. Ironically, it was this same Manohar Parrikar who, during his tenure as CM about a decade ago, tried to denotify the Mhadei and Netravali sanctuaries to benefit the mine owners. His attempts failed. Apart from the forest department and PAC, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has also issued notices to 30 mines and has suspended three mining leases. The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has also, this month, suspended two mines and issued notices to 21 others for gross violation of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR) 1988. The violations include exceeding production capacity, operations beyond lease boundaries, failing to plant saplings as directed for using forest land, exceeding size of pits, etc. Watch the Infochange film on the impact of mining in Goa:http://infochangeindia.org/infochange-documentary.html (Joseph Zuzarte is an independent journalist based in Goa)

GOA CM DIGAMBAR KAMAT 'ASSEMBLY LIES' EXPOSED AGAIN !!!

GoaChronicle.com LEAKS: 

CM lies in Assembly on Illegal Mining

Goa's Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has been evading the guilt on the illegal mining scam in Goa under one pretext or another. In a Legislative Assembly Question (LAQ) document which shows that CM states that there are 82 operational mines with all statutory permissions; however when GoaChronicle.com investigated into this matter, we learnt that 17 out of those mines mentioned by the CM do not have environmental clearances and also many mining leases approvals are pending…

On the subject ‘Mines Operational in the State’, Starred LAQ No: 13B answered on 5/4/2011. The Chief Minister - Minister for Mines was asked the following questions;
Q1: Will the Minister for Mines be pleased to state the number of mines operational/functional in the state at present?
CM: There are 82 mines presently under Operation in the State of Goa.

Q2: The number of functional mines that have all permissions/NOCs and have fulfilled all statutory requirements at present?
CM: Same as above

Q2: The details of mines which are operating without permissions/NOCs/ statutory requirements at present, the area of their operating, turnover of mines and production for last ten years?
CM: No such instances have some to our notice.

In the annexure copy provided by the Chief Minister and Directorate of Mines on the 82 operational mines; when GoaChronicle.com Team corroborated the information with Environmental Clearance documents provided by the Directorate of Mines, it clearly shows that 17 of the 82 operational mines which are claimed by the Chief Minister to have all the permissions /NOCs and statutory requirements at present do not have the required Environmental Clearance from either the wildlife or forest department at the Centre and state.

  

We have attached the government document of the assembly session submission by Digambar Kamat wherein he clearly states that these 82 mines have got all the necessary permissions. However, it is surprising to note that over Rs 3912 crore worth of iron-ore has been illegally mined by the mining companies and contractors; and the Chief Minister tells the House in the Assembly that illegal mining does not take place, and certainly not in these operational mines.
It is important to note that out of the 82 operational mines as claimed by the CM, only seven have got their mining leases renewed and two have executed the lease deed. (We have attached the government document)
(Please note for computation purpose we have taken the value as Rs 4000 per ton)
(Courtesy: Goa Chronicle)

Never Say Mines In Goa, It Is Goa In Mines !!!

Mining Shame: Dry lakes, barren fields across a state once green

While imposing a ban on mining in Karnataka’s Bellary district in July this year, the Supreme Court had reasoned that the massive environmental damage caused by excessive mining impinges on the constitutional right to life.

In Goa, the latest state rocked by a mining scandal, the destruction could be on an even larger scale if one compares mining figures and relates these to the areas of the large district and the tiny state. Bellary, with an area of 8,447 sq km, has 132 mining leases, according to the Karnataka Lokayukta’s report. Goa with 3,702 sq km, on the other hand, has 336 mining leases with 90 active at present. Goa constitutes only 0.11 per cent of the country’s area but as per latest figures of the Goa Mineral Ore Association, its two ports, in Mormugau and Panaji, account for 43 per cent of country’s iron exports.

Shirgao in North Goa is a microcosm of what is happening. The 3-sq-km village has three operational mines, run by the Banderkar, Chowgule and Sesagoa companies, and spread across 65 per cent of its land.

“We never say there are mines in our village. It is our village that is in the mines. Though the leases existed since Portuguese times, it was after 2003 that mining started on such a rampant scale,” said villager Dinanath Goankar as trucks laden with iron ore wheel past him every two minutes, leaving a perpetually trail of dust in the air.

The flattened hills and disembowelled plains in the village were once lush with rice, cashew, mango, kokum plantations and medicinal herbs. Now, all but one of the seven lakes, and 100-odd perennial streams, have dried up. Mining pits as deep as 60 m below sea level have led to saline water ingress into the groundwater.

One of Goankar’s farms, which was along the hills, was taken away for mining, while another, in the plains, died a slow death. Villagers dragged mining companies to the Bombay High Court in July for rendering their farms unproductive. The firms gave a joint undertaking that they would prove vilagers wrong by cultivating on 35 hectares. Three months on, despite attempts, the only visible signs of vegetation are overgrown weeds.

Mining has wreaked havoc on drinking water too. More than 27 mines operate in the catchment area of the state’s largest river, the Mandovi. Huge mounds of iron ore line the bank as it is cost-effective for miners to load them directly into barges for shipping to China. According to a report by the National Institute of Oceanography, due to runoffs from riverside mining, 70,000 tonnes of iron particulates get deposited in the Mandovi every year.

The story repeats itself across 10 other major rivers in the state. The Khandepar, which supplies water to 30 per cent of Goa’s population including those in Panaji, has a turbidity level ten times the capacity of its water treatment plant, PWD figures show. Its catchment area has 21 mines.

Ramesh Gauns, an environmental activist from Goa, said much of the illegal low grade iron ore extracted in excess of environmental clearance is stocked in dumps and then exported illegally. In August, the Bombay High Court issued showcause notices to 48 mining firms found guilty of sifting through their illegal dumps. “During monsoon, the run-off from these blankets the fields and clogs the water,” said Gauns.

“Much of this devastating industry is in ecologically fragile areas such as riverbanks and protected forests, and within 10 km of wildlife sanctuaries,” said environmentalist Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation, which has filed a court case against excessive mining. Claude said studies show the social cost of mining outweighs its benefits at 2:1.

S Sridhar, executive director of the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association, counters allegations of environmental degradation by citing data from the Forest Ministry to show the forest cover has increased in spite of mining. About the fall in agricultural yield, he said the association has been promoting agriculture but problems in getting labour has made farming costly for locals.

And the water problem is common in non-mining areas too, he said. “In fact many of the mining pits are used as reservoirs from where water is supplied to the villages after filtering it. We have spent a few crores on installation of filtration plants in many places and taken steps such as constructing bunds to arrest silting,” he said.

GOA MINING SHAME: No Politicians Involved In Illegal Mining, Goa Govt to Shah Commission !!??!!

 


Shah Commission: Whether illegal mining and trade of illegally mined minerals taking place under the patronage of any political parties, extremist elements for powerful local leaders or any other extra-constitutional elements? If so, indicate such elements.

Goa Govt: Nothing has come to the notice of this directorate (DMG).

Questionnaire (below) sent by the Shah commission to the Goa government gives a fair idea of the action that has not been taken by the Goa government in this issue

There was hue and cry over the Lokayukta report on illegal mining in Bellary, and it went on to cost B S Yeddyurappa his chair as the chief minister of Karnataka. But today the entire focus is on Goa which, according to the preliminary report of the Shah commission, gives the indication that illegal mining in the tourist haven is nothing short of the Bellary scenario.

Per se, it does not appear to be a simple case as it does involve a great deal of politicians in the ruling Congress. In addition to this there is also a direct link between Karnataka and Goa that can be found in this case, and as investigations progress, it will become clear that the Digambar Kamath government will have a major headache to deal with.

The Shah commission has surveyed around 93 mines so far and has found illegalities at various stages.

Looking at both Bellary and Goa it becomes clear that the devastation is almost similar. However, according to sources, there is every likelihood of more devastation being found in Goa.

There are around 135 mines in Goa and mining takes place in 4 talukas. What makes it worse is that last year alone around 50 million tonnes of ore has been extracted out of such a small area, which gives the clear indication that the impact and rate at which illegal mining has taken place.

Goa has long been a target of illegal mining, and according to records, this activity, which started way back in the 1940s, has gone unchecked all these years.

Illegal mining has been restricted to the forest areas in Goa and this has also added to the devastation. Another shocking fact is that there are around 800 mining leases given out in Goa, but the government says that only around 300 are in operation.

This would mean that the rest of mining leases that have been granted are all operating illegally.

As the probe on illegal mining progresses more skeletons are expected to tumble out since the more one digs into these mines in Goa, the more illegalities can be found.

There are some mines which have been operating for the past two decades without any approval from the authorities. In addition to this what has also been found is that despite the expiry of leases in 2007, most of the mine owners continue to operate without any proper sanction.

The most painful aspect of them all is that mining continues in areas next to wildlife sanctuaries despite a Supreme Court order banning all activity in a one kilometer radius. The most common factor that one finds between Goa and Bellary is that of raising contracts. Goa is also a party to this illegality where mines are being run by proxy owners.

The Shah commission would also depend on the statistics that are available with the Public Accounts Committee which clearly states that in the past 12 years 34 million tonnes of iron ore has been exported illegally from the mines in Goa.

The deposition before the Shah commission is also another interesting aspect. The names of several bigwigs have been tumbling out and more are expected to come out in the days to come.

The names of several existing ministers and their children are cropping up during the probe. Chief Minister Digambar Kamath, who has also been the mines minister for 12 years, has actually got the most to answer. Probes have pointed out that several norms have been violated, which also include the Forest Act.

The Goa government's role in helping the growth of illegal mining was in fact a public affair in 2009. 400 villagers had come out in the open at the Rivona village to protest mining activity in a forest area by a minister. However, the protest was quelled with 400 of them chargesheeted for disturbing peace in the area.

Going by the documents it is also clear that the Goa government does not have the answers to several questions that were raised by the Shah commission.

Here is a questionnaire (sent by the Shah commission to the Goa government) which gives a fair idea of the action that has or has not been taken by the Goa government in this issue:

Whether there is any violation and whether notice is issued to the lease holders/stockiest/trader

Nil

No of cases processed in the court (chargesheet filed)

Nil

No of transportation permits issued

There is no system for issuing transportation permits in this state

No of cases in which mines have been suspended.

Nil

No of cases of mines terminated in which license/lease is terminated. Whether any mine is seized or confiscated?

Nil

No of mines restored.

Nil  

Whether any special drive is started? If any, result there (with Indian Bureau of Mines or state task force/ flying squad) with number of visits of the mines.

21 mining leases were inspected with IBM as a part of Inspection in Endemic Area carried out by Task Force II of IBM (Phase 4) from 15/3/11 to 21/3/2011.

Prevention action taken based on other source for iron ore or manganese.

In case of one mine which was not valid, action to lift old stacks of boulders was stopped.

Whether the satellite imagining technique used by any state government to find out illegal mining of iron ore and  manganese? If yes, give details and result thereof.

No

Checking or users of iron and manganese and details of export, if available.

The iron ore produced in Goa is export-oriented

Price monitoring (give details of price trends).

Price monitoring is not done by this directorate

Whether any check at railway point/road check/ post

Nil

Whether any check at port

At both the ports exports have to furnish No Objection Certificates to the captain of ports/MPT issued by the Directorate of Mines & Geology stating that the ore being transported is from valid leases and the applicable royalty is paid to the state government before sailing of the ship.

Cases of illegal mining detected as per production given in mining plan (for iron ore and manganese).

Details shall be furnished subsequently

In case of excess production than the proposed production, whether action is taken for illegal mining?

Wherever required action shall be initiated

Amount of royalty recovered and whether checked on way at the time of payment, whether it was checked that production is from valid lease or by authorised license?

With effect from November, 2008 any valid lease holder who has to pay royalty to the state government is required to fill up a special challan designed in quadruplicate having a separate colour by itself. 

The challan is required to be authenticated by the special designated officer of this directorate before depositing the amount in the two designated treasuries only of State Bank of India; one in North Goa and other in South Goa. No unauthorised person can pay royalty/others dues without authentication. 

In case mines detected, where no lease was existing, whether criminal case is launched under IPC? If yes, give details and result thereof.

Nil

Furnish information about production envisaged and the actual achieved/reported. The grade of the iron ore and manganese ore produced in the state? Furnished details regarding grade available and the grade mined?  (The iron ore produced in the state is basically of low grade with 55%-58% Fe (Iron), which at present has export market.)

Total quantity permitted for all 90 working mines as per environmental clearance limit is 46.084 MT for iron ore 1.0MT for bauxite and a quantity of 161.8 MT was extracted during the last five years.

Undertaking mining in the area without taking approval of the concerned state government for transferring concession.

Nil

Raising of minerals without appropriate authority

Nil

Raising of minerals without paying royalty along with quantity and grade

Verification of lease holder date in process.

What is the modus operandi and methods of illegal mining activities in your state?

Illegal mining has been detected in 15 cases during last five years. Broadly the modus operandi noticed are as following:

1. In the pretext of digging ponds/excavation of silt, etc. The parties obtain permission from requisite authorities for digging well/pond, etc. and it is difficult to identify the genuine cases until through enquiry is conducted.

2. Exceeding the rated capacity stipulated in the EC limit.

3. Development of property is undertaken to win ore found to occur at the surface. However, such incidence has not come to the notice of the directorate.

4. Violation of Condition Stipulated in Environment Clearance.

Whether any state mineral policy is strictly adopted by the state?

State mineral policy is under formulation.

Any statutory provisions made by the state government

The state government has framed rules namely Goa (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage  of minerals) Rules, 2004 to curb illegal mining and trading activities.

Whether the provisions are sufficient for controlling illegal mining? If not, what are your suggestions?

Yes, this directorate is making necessary amendment to the rules of 2004, after taking into consideration amendment to the Rule 45 of MCDR, 1988.

What step would you like to suggest at the level of state and central government authorities for curbing illegal mining?

Transit passes

Spot visit of Central EC Committee/penal having state government authority

Assess carrying capacity of the area both in terms of number of mines and infrastructure.

To assess mining closure plan in case of multiple licence holding prior to issue of EC:

Registration of mining trucks

Registration of traders.

Do you suggest blanket ban on export of iron ore and manganese ore would help to prevent illegal mining activities in the state?

No, the grade of iron ore exported is low grade which has export potential at present. There is no indigenous consumption of iron ore. Thickly forested area should not be permitted for extraction of minerals.

What would be consequences, if such ban is imposed?

The mining activities will come at standstill as iron ore produced in Goa is export oriented.

Whether illegal mining and trade of illegally mined minerals taking place under the patronage of any political parties, extremist elements for powerful local leaders or any other extra-constitutional elements? If so, indicate such elements.

Nothing has come to the notice of this directorate.

What is the frequency of inspection of lease/mines in the state and whether all leases/mines are covered under inspections?

The inspection of mining lease is taken up on receipt of any complaint.

Whether any powers is given to police/forest/revenue officer under MMDR Act? And do you think there is a lack of co ordination between various state agencies like police, revenue, forest land records, etc; which gives loopholes for illegal mining activities and transportation of illegally mined minerals and ore?

No powers given, however, these agencies have to act within the ambit of their jurisdiction, sometimes it is not forth coming often leads to illegal mining and transportation.

Whether you perceive that delay in grant of approval of various state and central agencies is leading to illegal mining activities? If so, identify the agencies responsible delay in grants of various approvals.

No sir

What rule you perceive from the central government to assist in prevention and control of illegal mining activities and transportation of illegally mined minerals?

 1. Mining plan should not be approved unless proper site inspection done.

 2. GPS monitoring of production/transportation.

What action is being taken by your government on the MCD inspection carried out by Indian Bureau of Mines and report and violation letter endorsed by Indian Bureau of Mines?

Action will be initiated incase IBM informs that the lessees has not complied/rectified the violation within the stipulated period.

In how many cases, Central Bureau of Investigation inquiries or inquiries by state intelligence agency were conducted and what is the outcome? Give case wise details in chronological order.

Nil

GOA MINING SHAME: MINING BAN IMMINENT !!!

After the  mining ban in Karnataka, there is a strong possibility of the ban being extended in Goa too . In an media interview Justice Shah, the former Supreme Court judge and the head of the Shah Commission, which is investigating the mining scam in Goa, said that most minerals in Goa are exported at 20 times the price of domestic rates. He added that in order to control illegal mining, a strict monitoring of iron ore exports is vital.

Shah Commission report out in 45 days

The findings of the Shah Commission’s report will be out in 45 days, but Justice Shah said that  while exporting iron ore large amounts are amassed and this is the core problem resulting in corruption at all levels. He, however, said it is very difficult at the moment to name those who share this large amount.

Miners have a strong lobby contesting for continuation of illegal mining

In such circumstances, large amount is amassed and as a result there is corruption at all levels. “It is very difficult for us to say at present who are sharing this amount, what amount is being shared and therefore, at present we would say that it would be difficult to control this illegal mining. “  He added that those who extract minerals are lobbying for the continuation of illegal mining because their livelihood depends on it.

Procedure of lease renewal needs to be simplified

Within 45 days we are going to submit our report, but  we can suggest that this procedure of granting lease, or renewal requires to be simplified in such a way that a committee of all ex-persons , either environmental committee, state govt officers  should sit and decide the application within a few days.” Unless this is done, it will be difficult to control the delay in granting the renewal applications and misuse of this provision will continue, said Shah.

Cotrolling illegal mining difficult due to shortage of staff

He also said that controlling illegal activities has been a problem in most states due to a shortage of staff in various state departments. In order to make the mining activities in Goa more transparent  the Shah Commission has suggested that the government start by disclosing the names of all those who extract minerals and that they should be permitted to extract only within that leased area. He said another major problem is the misuse of lease extension granted to mine owners, which the Commission will look into.

Export of iron ore should be prohibited till everything is streamlined into a proper procedure

Shah said that controlling the export of iron ore depends on the central government. But the committee has suggested to prohibit export till everything is streamlined .