PANJIM: After a delay due to the ban on iron ore mining
operations, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation is gearing up to
construct a mining corridor dedicated to ore transportation in the
Quepem-Sanguem mining belt in three phases. The agency hopes to complete the
project before the October 2017 mining season.
Phase I of the corridor from Ugem to Guddemol will be taken
up and completed in the current mining season from October to May 2017. Phase I
was tendered for Rs 67.75 crore and the work had commenced in 2012 but could
not go ahead due to objections raised by the Forest Department and closure of
the mining industry. In January 2013, GSIDC had scrapped the contract of the
first phase and had decided to hold back the proposal till resumption of mining
activities.
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Speaking to Herald, GSIDC vice chairman Siddharth
Kuncolienkar said the design of all three phases has been prepared by the
Corporation and it is currently in the process of obtaining permissions from
the Forest Department for the first phase and land acquisition for the second
phase.
“Government has already given us a green signal and work is
in process. We intend to complete phase I in the current mining season,”
Kuncolienkar said adding, “We want to provide mining corridors to the people
before the season next year. That is our target.”
Last week, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had directed
GSIDC to immediately tender Phase I from Ugem to Guddemol and Phase II from
Guddemol to Capxem.
In 2012 the government had published sections IV, VI and VII
of the Land Acquisition Act for two phases – Ugem to Guddemol and Guddemo to
Capxem. The mining corridor also had a proposed third phase, which was planned
to connect the mines of Cavrem, Maina, Rivona, to the main mining corridor.
When asked whether GSIDC has held talks with mining companies on
funding of the project, Kuncolienkar said, “Talks are yet to be held but since
Chief Minister has announced it (funding from mining companies), it is a very
good decision.”
A group of villagers from Sanguem, Quepem and Curchorem,
under the banner of ‘Mission Bypass’, had called on Parsekar earlier this month
demanding that work on the mining bypass be completed as soon as possible. They
had threatened to block ore transportation till the corridors were put in
place.
