Govt to brief Shah Commission on action against illegal mining
PTI, PANAJI | 09 April 2012 22:35 IST
Goa Government will submit details of action taken against the iron ore traders to Justice M B Shah Commission, probing illegal mining in the state.
The commission, in a letter to the Mines Department last week, sough details of action taken against the traders, Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya told reporters here today.
The department will soon respond to the letter as several measures had been taken to curb illegal trading in iron ore in the coastal state, he said.
Goa's new Government last week suspended licences of 460 traders in a bid to check illegal extraction and export of ore from the state.
The traders have been asked to furnish details, including their contract with mining firms, before the department renews their licences.
Each trader will be scrutinised on various aspects to ensure he does not facilitate illegal mining.
Those traders who fail to submit details by April 15 will not be considered for licences, Acharya said.
The Centre-appointed commission, which has submitted its interim report to the Union Mines Ministry, last year had asked Goa Government to verify authenticity of the traders.
The Mines Department was shocked to find that as many as 108 traders had submitted fake addresses.
Last week, then Mines Department Director Arvind Lolienkar was suspended for illegalities.
The department has stumbled upon 240 more applications seeking trading licences.
"These traders never followed up the matter," Acharya said, adding the applications are likely to be rejected in absence of proper documents.
