TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: It is after 18 months that a ship carrying ore has left Goan shores, bringing to an end the halt on ore export from the State.
After hiccups and even an FIR filed against the exporting company, 70,000 tonnes ore left for China even as the Mines department initiated proceeding against Bagadiya Brothers Pvt Ltd to forfeit their EMD after it was found in the eleventh hour that they had indulged in fraud in 2011.
After the matter came under the media glare, the Mines department has sought to distance itself from the matter saying that the e-auction of iron ore was conducted by the State Government as per the directions of Supreme Court under the supervision of Monitoring Committee appointed by the Supreme Court.
“During the first and second e-auction Bagadiya Brothers Pvt Ltd was one amongst the successful bidders and has paid full value of the auction bid to the Government and hence the bidder has been permitted to export without prejudicing the rights of State Government to take appropriate action,” says the department while attempting to explain about the last minute communiqué sent to MPT to hold the NOC in abeyance and then file an FIR on a violation that occurred in 2011.
“Alleged irregularities done by Bagadiya Brothers Pvt Ltd in 2010-11 were noticed only on March 27, 2014 and accordingly show cause notice has been issued to the party. FIR has been registered with the SIT for further investigations,” admits the Mines department in a written statement even as the Union government has released a communiqué that iron ore handling has commenced at Mormugao Port.
“This followed easing of the ban by the Supreme Court on the sale of iron ore which has already been mined while continuing the ban on extraction of ore,” it said, adding that the Mechanical Ore Handling Plant of Mormugao Port is highly versatile and capable of loading a Panamax size vessel in a single day.
On 5th October 2012, the Apex court had banned extraction and transportation of Goan iron ore in a bid to clamp down on illegal mining thereby freezing shipments.
According to sources, the company had exported 49,765 metric tons of iron ore from Goa to China from February to October 2011 on a forged NOC. Also royalty of only around Rs 6 lakh was paid although the amount to be paid was Rs 66 lakh. The involvement of Mines department officials has not been ruled out.
The company is said to have a criminal case already registered against them in Chattisgarh. The SIT has registered an offence under sections 379, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, section 4(1-A), 9 read with sections 21 (1)(5) of Mines and Mineral (Development & Development) Act, 1957; sub rule 2(G), 3, 5(2) read with Rule 7 of Goa Prevention of Illegal Mining Transportation & Storage of Minerals Rules, 2004; Rule 45 (13) of Minerals Conservation & Development Rules 1988 and sections 7, 12 and 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act.
The first ever iron ore sale through e-auction in Goa was held on February 17, 2014. Around 15 million tons of ore lying at various places will be e-auctioned.
