Says membership at stake if found guilty
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa’s apex industrial body Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has declared that ‘all those involved in illegal mining should be brought to book’ and if any member of the chamber is found to be involved in illegal mining his membership will automatically cease to exist, as per the constitution of the body.’
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GCCI has also said that the iron ore mining in the State is expected to start by August, this year, claiming that their rationale was the Apex Court decisions vis-à-vis mining in the neighbouring State.
However, the GCCI reiterated that action should be initiated against all those involved in illegal mining and expressed unhappiness over failure of the government to act against those involved in illegalities.
“Government may be working internally in this regards but externally we cannot find anything,” Raikar said adding “all those involved in illegal mining should be brought to book’.
On the start of mining, he said, “We feel that mining would start by August this year. The Supreme Court has given indications in those directions. The mining case (Goa) would be heard in the Court in July,” GCCI Chairman Manguirish Pai Raikar said.
Raikar said that the Supreme Court order in case of Karnataka mining industry is enough indication that same procedure would be adopted in allowing legal iron ore mining industry in Goa.
“In Karnataka, the court had asked to categorise mining and mines which are perfectly legal were allowed to start. Same thing, we expect to happen in case of Goa. All those mines which have proper documentation and are with legal provisions should resume,” Raikar claimed.
The Supreme Court via an order in October 2012 halted all mining activities in the State directing Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to investigate into the claims of illegal mining.
In case of Karnataka, after almost two years SC, in April, lifted the ban on iron ore mines in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts and permitted 81 lease owners, to resume mining after compliance of stringent conditions laid down by the courts.
