Rs 200 cr royalty lost, claim Oppn, Daya
PANJIM, FEB 1
‘Illegal mining’ took centre-stage on the second day of Winter Session of Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday with Opposition members along with Aldona MLA attacking the Government for failing to curb illegal mining activities in the State as also to prevent pilferage of royalty.
The Opposition took on the Government during ‘Question Hour’ along with Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar questioning as to what had been done to stop the pilferage of royalty. They pointed out over Rs 200 crore royalty had been lost during last three years while Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who also holds mines portfolio, said the Department of Mines had issued show cause notices to companies who were not regular in filing their returns.
The Department has been engaged in thorough assessment of the mining companies for the last ten years to ensure that no one escapes from payment of royalty.
However, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar pointed out that the Department does not have data to counter-check the submissions made by the mining companies. The chief minister replied that more staff would be recruited to be posted at mining sites and total computerisation will be done to check irregularities.
The Opposition also came down heavily on the Government over environmental clearance (EC) to mining companies saying many firms were extracting ore more than legally permitted.
Sanguem MLA Vasudev Gaonkar pointed out to illegal mining being carried out in Rivona. Even mining activities are on within the catchment areas of Selaulim dam, he told the House.
Intervening at this point, Opposition Leader sought to know whether the Department had acted to ensure that lessees did not extract ore more than legally permitted.
The Chief Minister, however, said it the duty of the Bangalore office of Ministry of Environment and Forest to ensure that ECs were not violated.
Opposition Leader, however, pointed out the State Government has power to make rules to stop illegal mining. There is provision under the Mines and Mineral (Regulation & Development) wherein the State Government enjoys power to frame rules or issue notification to ensure that minerals are not exhausted.
Referring to the written reply of the Government, Parrikar had pointed out that M/s Chowghule & Co Ltd, which had licensed capacity as per EC, to exact 0.42 metric tons per annum had exceeded its limit. It had extracted 612270 metric tons.
“I’m disturbed, the MLAs should go home. I‘m ready to go home”, remarked Opposition Leader when he realised that the Government was not considering the issue seriously.
