Seeking to restrain the resumption of iron and manganese ore mining in Goa amid the MB Shah commission estimating a loss of R35,000 crore to the exchequer due to illegal mining, Goa Foundation on Tuesday said that only three companies control 70% of the exports in Goa and pay less than 1% royalty to the state.
Counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the Goa Foundation, sought the setting up of a special probe agency to investigate the alleged loss to the state revenue, the illegalities committed in mining activities and the connivance of public servants in abetting the same. However, the industry association denied any such illegalities.
Referring to the Shah commission report, he alleged that iron ore worth R35,000 crore “was plundered by mining companies, committing theft of government property”.
Referring to the Commission’s report, the NGO alleged that the mining leases were renewed without prior approval under the Forest Conservation Act 1980. It said that due to lack of co-ordination between the Department of Mines and Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the mines were set up in forest and eco-sensitive areas, close to streams and rivers, causing severe air and water pollution, degradation of the environment and the loss of bio-diversity.
The NGO added that the failure of the state to control illegal mining has led to large-scale destruction of both the forest and non-forest land and has adversely affected the livelihoods of local people – especially the rural poor.
Mining operations in all the 90 mines in Goa were ordered to be halted by the Supreme Court in October last year on the basis of the judicial commission report. Even mining companies were restrained from exporting and selling the already extracted ores. While the state government had in September last year temporarily suspended all mining operations, the NGO had alleged that suspension did not affect the trade as the private companies are transporting the ores from mines.