TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: After giving in-principle clearance to The Goa Grant of Mining Leases Policy, 2014, the State government is now contemplating on introducing cluster area development concept to streamline transportation in mining areas. The proposal moots a cluster wise capping on transport.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday told media about his intentions to introduce a proper transportation policy for the mining talukas by November, to ensure that ‘the mining belt does not continue to (follow the) law of jungle.’
Parrikar, who is the Mines Minister, said that the policy would specify proper rules and guidelines for transportation of ore from the loading point (mining site) to the jetties. The policy, which speaks about cluster area development concept, would specify the number of trucks per area, he said.
Supreme Court, which is hearing the illegal mining case, was of the firm opinion that State should have cluster wise capping on transportation, based on the carrying capacity of road and the environmental damage.
Around 22,000 trucks were engaged in the mining sector for transportation of ore, prior to suspension of mining operations in September 2012. However, only 12,000 trucks are registered with the government, who has announced that only the trucks registered with the Directorate of Mines and Geology would be allowed to transport ore once mining resumes.
Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), in its report, has proposed cap of 25 MTPA (million tons per annum) for the State based on the existing infrastructure. As per the report, placed before the Apex Court the overall road capacity of mining in North Goa is 13.68 MTPS and 11.31 MTPA for South.
According to State government’s Mineral policy 2013, a committee headed by Principal Secretary (Mines) would determine the road capacity for ore transportation.
Based on the transport policy, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) will conduct a feasibility study of traffic along the belts to ascertain the need for mining corridors.
After scraping the Rs 86 crore contract of the first phase of the mining corridor for re-tendering last year, GSIDC decided to hold back the proposal till resumption of mining activities.
The corporation, which is of the opinion that corridors might not be essential as there would be restriction on mining activities including traffic movement after mining resumes, has now decided to conduct the feasibility study. “The decision to have mining corridors was taken due to heavy truck movement laden with ore that were leading to traffic congestion and fatal accidents. But now mining will re-start with restrictions on production, export and transport and hence we will have to conduct the feasibility study before going ahead with the project,” a senior GSIDC official said.
Government had, in 2012, published sections IV, VI and VII of the Land Acquisition Act for two phases –Uguem to Guddem and Uguem-Capxem. The mining corridors also proposed phase three, which was planned in order to connect the mines of Cavrem, Maina and Rivona to the main mining corridor.
