Controversy over Govt allowing export of Maharashtra ore
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 10 January 2013 20:38 IST
A new mining controversy has erupted with Goa’s mines department allowing Goa’s mining House Fomento to export iron ore stocked up in Goa, which is supposed to have been brought from a mine in Maharashtra.
Green activists have strongly objected to this action, while mines department has justified its act.
The Mines Department has issued a No Objection Certificate to Prime Minerals, a company from Maharashtra run by Goa’s Fomento group, to export iron ore stocked up in Goa.
Around 72,000 metric tonnes of iron is stocked up at Sirsaim in North Goa.
According to mines director Prasanna Acharya, the supreme court has not banned export of iron ore from other states through Goa.
He also quoted the supreme court order of 5 October as follows:
“Till further orders all mining operations in the leases identified in the Shah Commission Report and transportation of iron ore and manganese ore from those leases, whether lying at the mine head or stockyards shall remain suspended as recommended in the Shah Commission Report”.
Based on this order, Acharya states that the order does not ban import of iron ore from outside the state or the country. Also transportation of such imported ore and export of leases outside
Goa is not banned.
Dr Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation however feels that the government is taking a technical view of the order.
He also feels that the mines department could have taken permission from the Supreme court before giving this NOC since the iron ore was stocked up in Goa.
Social activist Dr Oscar Rebello feels nobody should vitiate the environment unnecessarily when the supreme court is hearing the matter on 17 January.
He has also questioned the capability of the mines department to find out where the ore is from Goa or Maharashtra.
east or west fomento is the best. Digambar or parrikar, timblo is the boss. Viva timblo the real owner of goa.