As the government readies to table the mining policy on August 18, Goa Foundation lists out a set of 20 questions which it would like to ask Twenty Questions the Goa Foundation would like to ask Goa’s legislators to think about in public interest on the new mining policy:
1) Who owns the iron, manganese, bauxite and other ores – the Centere, the State, the landowner or the mining leaseholder?
2) Our published calculations show that the remaining ore in the ground is worth around Rs. 2.5 lakh crore — Rs. 2,50,000,00,00,000. Or Rs. 15 lakhs per person. What is the State’s estimate of the value of the remaining iron ore in the ground? On a per person basis?
3) Our published calculations show that in the last 8 years of active mining, for every Rs.100 worth of iron ore extracted, the state received less than Rs. 5. Was that in the public interest or Goa’s interest? Is it in the public interest to continue with such a business model?
4) To be more specific, if Government allows mining to re-start on the same terms as it did in the past ten years, this would mean it will eventually earn only Rs.11,000 crores in royalty instead of 2.5 lakh crore (from the sale of the remaining ore in the ground)? Why is the gGovernment of Goa handing over this staggering amount to a handful of mining companies and lease owners?
5) How will the State change mining policy so that it receives Rs.100 for every Rs.100 worth of iron ore extracted, since the ore belongs to the State and its people and all that money can be used for the welfare of this generation and coming generations?
6) Why did the Supreme Court mandate the creation of the Goan Iron Ore Permanent Fund? Should our contribution to the Fund be just 10%, when most countries which have such Funds, contribute 100%? Why is the government keen to put income from iron ore into the Pprivate Ffunds of mining companies instead? Why does the Ggovernment not want to implement the proposals made by the Goa Foundation on public sector mining and all revenues to the Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund?
7) Over the last 8 years of mining, the miners made profits in excess of Rs. 30,000 crores — much of it from mining without a mining lease. The total spent by miners on hiring trucks, barges and employees was less that Rs. 12,000 crores. Yet the state is compensating for the financial problems of the mining dependent. Is this in the interest of the state? Why is this not recovered from the windfall profits of the mining companies? In contrast to Goa Government which earned Rs.2387 crores from royalty over eight years of mining, the mining companies earned profits in excess of Rs. 30,000 crores. What have the mining companies provided in terms of relief to mining dependent persons, especially truckers and barge owners, from their profits? Would the companies have earned even one rupee without the hard work and investments of truckers and barge owners?
8) The value of the ore that was illegally extracted after November 2007 is over Rs. 25,000 crores. With penal interest as per law, conservatively the amount recoverable is over Rs. 2.5 lakhs per person. Is the Goa Ggovernment willing to pay Rs. 2.5 lakhs from its pocket for each person in every Goan household to regularise the illegalities committed by the miners? Is this in the public interest?
9) How much is recoverable due to illegal mining as per the Supreme Court judgment such as – mining after 22-Nov-2007 (without a valid lease), violating section 37, violating section 38, creating dumps outside mining leases and dump mining? Compare it with the Rs. 145 crores per annum that the State will receive as royalty from the 28 leases that the State wants to renew. Is this in the public interest ?
10) As a result of the Supreme Court judgment, all ore ready for export as well as all 750 million tons of dumps are the property of the State. As per CM’s own statement, it contains 150 million tonnes of saleable ore (20%).What is the value of this material?
11) There are many abandoned mines (including laterite quarries). There are many people looking for employment. There are many trucks idle. And there’s 750 million tons of dumps available for sale or for restoring the mines. Why isn’t the State rehabilitating abandoned mines first by employing the truckers rather than wanting to allow fresh extraction? Was this not the actual position of Manohar Parrikar when he was Chairman of PAC?
12) 20 sq km of land has been converted, as iron ore was dumped on lands illegally (without conversion). Why don’t we clear up the land, so that we have more than enough land for our development needs?
13) If after this Ggovernment has completed half its term, everyone in the mining department, town planning and police is corrupt as per public statements of the CM, how can we think of re-starting mining without effective monitoring system? Who can we trust to monitor mining activity? Will Manohar Parrikar himself inspect all consignments and every truck, since all his staff are corrupt?
14) Who will control the existing mining mafia in the State which cannot be prosecuted despite violating every law in the rule book, even two years after being shut down?
15) Can the corruption of a State Mineral Corporation be worse than four and a half years of fully illegal mining, that was stopped by an independent enquiry and by the Supreme Court? Why is the Government reluctant to ask the public sector to get the ore extracted with the use of experienced mining companies and then have it auctioned under its own department to get maximum revenue? This would ensure effective eradication of mining mafias, existing and future.
16) Who committed the illegalities in mining? The Supreme Court? Goa Foundation? Or the miners? Why no criminal prosecutions against the parties responsible even till today? Isn’t the evidence gathered over the past two years, including hiring chartered accountants, not enough? How much more evidence is needed? Why is the SIT still sitting?
17) How did this Government decide to renew two leases right next to Selaulim reservoir? Doesn’t it care a damn about the health of the people of south Goa, as manganese residues in water are toxic to health? How did this government renew leases in Shirgao when they have destroyed agricultural lands and ground water aquifers beyond recovery?
18) If a person commits illegal mining, dumps waste material on government lands and flouts the law, the Mining Regulations require them to be put behind bars and ensure they are not allowed to mine again. In MP’s regime, they are being rewarded with fresh grant of leases for another 20 years! How is this possible?
19) Justice Shah Commission has showed in his third report how all mining companies in Goa with few exceptions were involved in under-invoicing of imports. When is Goa Government going to recover all that money and prosecute those who were involved? Instead, why are the lease holders involved being considered for fresh lease grants?
20) Are we therefore seeing achhe din only for the mining lease-holders? Is this a Ggovernment only for the rich? Is this why we elected Manohar Parrikar as CM?
