25k tonnes of ore transported after March 15

Team Herald

PANJIM: Over 25,000 tonnes of material consisting of run-of-mine (ROM) and iron ore fines were allegedly “illegally” transported from mining plots to jetties in violation of the Supreme Court judgment. Besides, over one third of this material was exported.

Goa Foundation, the petitioner in the Supreme Court, has written to the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) requesting them to ensure that whatever material has been transported after March 15 and is lying at jetties or at the port, should not be allowed to be exported as it is illegal and the Apex Court has not allowed its transportation.

From March 16, nearly 25,938.46 tonnes (0.025 million tonnes) of ore were transported from plots to jetties by of which almost all ore was transported and exported by Minescape and Kedar Ores Pvt Ltd (16,016.92 tonnes) and Minescape Minerals Pvt Ltd (8,865.200 tonnes).

The ore was transported from mining sites to Sirsaim jetty in Sirsaim, Emco Jetty at Capxem and ACM jetty at Sanvordem. Fomento was not involved in any export.

Speaking to Herald, Goa Foundation director Dr Claude Alvares said that almost 2600 trucks were involved in ferrying the ore lying outside the lease areas to jetties post March 15. “This transportation is illegal. The Supreme Court in its recent order has also said that material transported on or before March 15 should be allowed to be exported,” he said.

He said that GF has written to DMG to ensure that the material transported from the mining leases belonging to Minescape Ores Pvt Ltd and Fomento Resources, post March 15, should not be allowed to be exported.

The Supreme Court in its February 7 judgment had quashed and set aside the second renewals granted to 88 mining leases while directing them to stop operations after March 15. Accordingly, DMG ordered a stoppage of all mining operations including transportation of ore from March 16.

However, following the advice of the Advocate General, DMG allowed leaseholders to transport ore lying outside the lease areas for which royalty was paid. The same was struck down by the High Court of Bombay at Goa following a petition by Goa Foundation. The high Court refused to even allow transportation or export of ore stacked at jetties and ports.

The Supreme Court in its recent order in interim relief to the mine owners and traders allowed them to transport ore stacked at jetties, ports and barges on or before March 15. The court has not spoken on transportation post March 15.

For the current season till April 4, in all 2.15 million tonnes of ore are lying at jetties, which include over 25,000 tonnes transported post March 15.