Ban ore export, stretch reserves for 100 years: GF
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 18 September 2013 23:39 IST
Goa Foundation today urged the Supreme Court to ban export of iron ore from Goa as suggested by Standing Committee Report on review of iron ore exports and also to stretch out ore reserves for 100 years.
Adv Prashant Bhushan, while arguing as a counsel of GF, also placed the report of Public Accounts Committee headed by Manohar Parrikar, now the Goa chief minister.
While continuing his arguments from yesterday till 3 pm today, Adv Bhushan placed the whole report of the Standing Committee of the Parliament on Review of Iron Ore Exports, tabled in both the Houses of Parliament last month.
The report has recommended as follows:
“The Committee are however, concerned to note that as per the present foreign trade policy regarding export of iron ore, iron ore upto 64% Fe content is freely allowed. Further, export of iron ore of Goa origin is freely allowed to China, Europe, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (irrespective of Fe content) and export of iron ore from Redi region to all markets (irrespective of Fe content) is also freely allowed.
In view of the free trade of iron ore upto 64% Fe content and even export of higher grade of iron ore, the Committee recommend that the Government should take immediate necessary policy measures not only to ban the export of iron ore reserves of higher grade but also those upto 64% Fe content which are presently freely allowed. “
Keeping in mind that the existing leases are left with only 577 million tonnes of ore, Adv Bhushan pleaded that the extraction of this ore be stretched to 100 years, so that at least three generations benefit from it rather than few companies.
He also placed before the forest bench of the apex court all the recommendation made by Parrikar’s PAC. It includes the following recommendation:
“State Government should cap the total quantities of ore that the local area can take, by clustering the leases based on their Geographical locations and available transport network. The powers to do so are available to the State Government.”
After Adv Bhushan finished his arguments, the forest bench led by Justice A K Patnaik heard the Central Empowered Committee, represented by Adv A D N Rao.
If he finishes by tomorrow, the court will then hear the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Ministry of Mines, only after which Goa government would be heard.
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