PANJIM: Each Goan household would be richer by Rs 61 lakh, if 100 per cent of the revenue generated through sale of iron ore is set aside in the Permanent Fund in the near future, Mapusa based NGO Goa Foundation (GF) argued, considering that iron ore reserves of Goa are estimated at 1.3 billion tons.
Goa Foundation which has been in the forefront of the legal fight against illegal mining, has estimated that considering the iron ore reserves of Goa is 1.3 billion tonnes generating Rs 2,23,322 crore, within 10 years, the size of the Permanent Fund would be Rs 34,357 crores, generating annually Rs 1,031 crores for the State government’s welfare budget.
Four Goan Padma Shree awardees-Wendell Rodricks, Suresh Amonkar, Norma Alvares and Maria Aurora Couto Friday appealed to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to ensure that henceforth all the proceeds-that is 100 percent- from the sale of ore in the State should go to the Permanent Fund.
The Padmshrees in their petition have said “considering the fact that Goa lost huge revenue due to illegal mining all this while, Government should keep the entire earning from the mining business for the welfare of the State”. They also appealed to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to amend the Act so as to increase the Supreme Court suggested 10 percent contribution to the permanent fund to 100 percent.
“Each Goan household owns the ore to an extent of Rs 61 lakh,” Goa Alvares told media on Friday. He pointed out that through illegal mining between 2007-2012, 182 million tons of ore was extracted and sold without any valid licence, valued at Rs 35,780 crores. “If this is divided among the Goan population of 15 lakh, each Goan family lost Rs 10 lakh,” he added.
