TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: While ruling out the possibility of starting of iron ore mining operations by September, this year, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said that the rules of Mines and Minerals Regulation Development (MMRD), transparency, employment guarantee and maximization of profit to State are the key parameters that would be taken into account while drafting a policy for allocation of mining leases in the State.
“Movement of trucks and barges should start by September but whether iron ore extraction or mining will start by September, I don’t know,” Parrikar said, indicating that 15 million metric ton ore has been recorded and another 10 million metric ton unrecorded ore is lying around and this can be transported till April 2015.
“We have 25 million metric ton capacity. The roads have around 25 million metric ton carrying capacity. This can be transported till April next year,” he said.
Chief Minister said that a policy for allocation of leases would be drafted keeping in mind Supreme Court judgment and in consultation with the new Union government.
“Supreme Court wants that the lease allocation should be done as per MMRD Act and it should be transparent. At the same time, for me there are two other conditions — employment guarantee and maximization of the profit for the State. We will draft the policy taking all these parameters into account and in consultation with the Centre because now there are similar judgments in other states,” he stated.
Parrikar also reiterated that he does not favour e-auctioning of the iron ore in the future as it puts liability on the government for provide logistic support to buyers, who bid for the ore.
