l CM says mining to start in 3 months; but it cannot have the same existing mining baron companies or national and internal mega players
l Mining can be started only by the Mineral Corporation
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l Initial recovery of Rs 3,500 cr due to illegal mining is a must, and the money deposited in the Mineral Corporation
With the formal clearance of the Goa Mineral Corporation Bill and the notification of the Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund (subject to the Supreme Court’s final clearance) the foundation has been laid for restarting of people’s mining in Goa. However, this cannot be a restart of the old ways of mining with the old players. That is simply not possible.
Is there a clear plan on how the Mineral Corporation can start mining in three months? Not yet
The Chief Minister has said that mining will restart in three months. That looks very unlikely even though this is an election promise.
Mining restart shouldn’t be linked to elections but about handing it back to the people
The government must make it absolutely clear that at the very least the mineral corporation can start functioning in three months. The reason for the formation of the mineral corporation was this:
Under the establishment and incorporation section of the Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill 2021, the purpose of the Mineral Corporation is clearly defined. It states: “For the purpose of carrying out mining operations and allied activities in an orderly, scientific and ecological sustainable manner, there shall be established by the government …a Goa Mineral Development Corporation.”
The functions of the corporation include (1) obtaining mining leases/grants, prospecting licenses, etc; (2) carry out mining operations for the State carry out business relating to the mining dumps, transportation, extraction of ore, export of ore and (3) participate in the auction related to mining lease/prospecting licences.
People of Goa do not want either the local mining barons or national and international players. They want local mining people
The Mineral Corporation itself should act as a professional mining firm with its team of experts, geologists and all other specialists that the big mining companies have. These professionals should be hired on the company payroll. The corporation in turn should then give mining extraction licences to local mining operators who have been carrying out mining functions like extraction, transport etc. The scientific backup that is needed for any mining operations should be provided by the corporation. There should be no auction but tendering for locals for mining extraction and transportation contracts to ensure that all locals get business.
The current lot earlier involved in illegal mining and outside forces should be kept out and locals will benefit
The actual money owed due to illegal mining runs into thousands of crores. The Goa Foundation had filed a petition seeking the recovery of Rs 3,431 crore. This included the amount fixed by a team of chartered accountants to audit 118 mining leases plus the amount fixed by the CAG in 2017.
Instead of almost Rs 3,500 cr, the govt gave notice to recover only Rs 300 crore
The government must answer why notices have not been issued for Rs 3,431 crore and only Rs 300 crore. Out of which only Rs 100 crore have been recovered. This is a small change. Almost like the toffee that the shopkeeper gives when he doesn’t have change when you buy bread.
This is people’s money. And the entire amount must be recovered. People have also not forgotten the Rs 35,000 crore which the Shah Commission calculated as the total loss due to mining in the five years from 2007 to 2012.
The Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund must be managed by the Mineral Corporation. And used only to give dividends to all Goans
Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund was created by the Supreme Court in April 2014 as part of its judgment in a case regarding widespread irregularities in the State’s mining activities. This was meant for a steady income for all Goans since they are custodians of the State’s mineral wealth. The fund for this would come from 10 per cent on the sale value of iron ore. In 2016 this fund was Rs 100 crore. Now it has gone up to Rs 500 crore with interest. This amount should be used only to give dividends from the amount in the fund plus interest. So, the more the sales of iron ore, the more each Goan gets. And this should be managed by the Mineral Corporation.
The people are the owners of all minerals, so they should get a regular income
The earnings of the Mineral Corporation will be used for the development of mining and carrying out operations while the Iron Ore Fund will be used to pay a regular income, to all Goans.
Putting mining in the hands of the people of Goa is a victory achieved with a lot of struggle
This struggle should not go to waste. The efforts of Claude and Norma Alvares and their team at Goa Foundation in fighting so many cases, attending NGT hearings in Pune by bus and not letting a single anti-people decision go unchallenged, deserves the highest civilian award. But they will be happiest, along with all Goans, if mining is run in a sustainable manner, without corruption and greed and is controlled by the people.
The absence of rampant mining in the last seven years has also controlled the destruction of Goa. There is greenery
There is lush greenery where the mining pits were. The waters are clean and the roads have no dust. The mining areas can well become attractions for hinterland tourism. If sustainable clean mining is done, mining and tourism can co-exist in Goa, for the benefit of the State and its people.
All it needs is the will of a people’s party to rule Goa, without the baggage of any of the illegality and destruction that had come to resemble Goan mining in the past.
