TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Although the ban on mining operations continues, barge movement has started in the Mandovi river. And strangely they are moving with covered cargo, which cannot be deciphered.
At first the barges were seen moving only at night, but a few days ago, the barges started moving by afternoon.
When Captain of Ports James Braganza was quizzed about the movement of barges, he informed that these were barges transporting the ore of Sesa Goa. The barges are transporting iron ore from their Zuari pier to their Amona pig iron Plant. There is nothing illegal he said, stating that there was no ban on internal movement of ore. That ore is not for export, Braganza informed.
“Forget about export, they cannot take the ore outside the state. But internal movement is allowed,” the Captain of Ports said.
Braganza further informed that, a ship carrying coal has also arrived in Goa. “Some of the barges may also be carrying coal inland,” he said. “There are not restrictions on movement of barges, but they cannot carry ore for export,” Braganza informed.
Mines Department confirmed that the ore belongs to Karnataka mines, which Sesa Goa had purchased through e-auction. “The same has been transported through Goa,” a senior official confirmed.
Pointing to the Supreme Court order, the officer said ‘the apex court order bans extraction, production and transportation of iron ore from mines or leases from Goa. There is no ban on transporting ore from outside the State’. “The permissions for transportation is granted by the district collector,” the officer added.
The mining ban has been in force in Goa since October, 2012, after the Supreme Court relied on the Justice M B Shah Commission report, which assessed the illegal mining loss to the exchequer at Rs 35,000 crore.
The Supreme Court appointed six member expert panel which has to recommend ceiling or capping of iron ore, was expected to make its submissions to the Apex court on February 15.
The first e-auction is slated for February 17, where nearly half a million metric tons of ore would be auctioned.
