TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The State government appears to have decided to amend its existing Goa Mineral Policy 2013, rather than go for a fresh policy document, and notify it as Goa Mineral Policy 2014, despite the Supreme Court observations and censure, possibly due to pressures from the local mining stakeholders.
The rules of Mines and Minerals Regulation Development (MMRD), transparency, employment guarantee and maximization of profit to the State from mining, revenues are the key parameters that would be taken into account, while amending the policy and allocation of mining leases and operation of the mining industry in the State, an official disclosed.
Speaking to Herald, Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya said that the file about the mining policy is pending with the Chief Minister.
“There is an existing mining policy. We have to customize (amend) it according to the SC judgement. We have sent it to the government for opinion,” he stated. The director also argued that the department is of the opinion that mining can resume in the State by following the Supreme Court order.
The Goa Mineral Policy 2013 that was notified on September 28, 2013 speaks about promoting private sector participation in various aspects of mineral development, which includes exploration, infrastructure creation and other mining related activities and mineral based industries. This aspect of the policy that can play a major role while allocating mining leases, considering the fact that the Apex Court has pronounced that all mining leases in Goa, since working on deemed extension, are illegal.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has already announced that the new mining policy, which is mandatory for resumption of mining activity, would be drafted by June-end in consultation with the Union government. The State Mines Ministry has already referred back the mineral policy to the Directorate of Mines and Geology for carrying out necessary amendments in lines with the Supreme Court order.
A senior Mines official at the Secretariat confirmed about State government’s plans to amend the existing policy, considering the fact that the existing policy speaks about much of the points raised by the Supreme Court including mines working on deemed provision, development and exploitation of mineral resources in a scientific and sustainable manner, review the existing practice of random exploitation of mineral resources and to regulate the same.
“Even though in the policy, 45 million ton capping annually is been suggested, government will consider the final recommendation of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute,” the official said, adding that the preliminary report of NEERI is expected this month. Chief Minister in the past was reported as saying that the road capacity would be taken into account while deciding the annual capping of ore production for the State.
