PANJIM: Days after the Goa Barge Owners Association threatened to stop operations if their outstanding loans are not taken over by the government, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) on Monday warned it would de-register the barges and thereby stop the barges from transporting e-auctioned ore.
In an order, DMG director Prasanna Acharya has said that the e-auction and movement of ore is carried out pursuant to and in compliance of the Supreme Court direction and any deviation from same would amount to direct contempt of Supreme Court orders.
Acharya said that any attempt by barge owners to stop or sabotage movement of e-auctioned ore is not only in contempt of Supreme Court order but also in violation of (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage and Transportation of Minerals) Rules 2013. “As such department wants to protect the registered carriers who are law abiding and act sternly against those who are acting in violation of Supreme Court orders and rules 2013,” the order reads.
Acharya has directed registered barge owners to reply to the department within the next two days informing whether they are commencing carriage of minerals forthwith so that the barge owners could be allowed to carry business and be eligible for benefits of schemes, of the government wherever qualified.
“Kindly note that in case no reply is received within the time specified herein, the department reserves right to act against you without any further notice including deregistering your carrier under Rules 2013 and not allowing you to carry the e-auctioned ore,” the notice warns.
Till date as per DMG records, 150 barges have been registered with the department.
Barge owners have been demanding that the Government Debt Relief scheme be extended by another four months and seeking that the loans be taken over. The scheme ends on December 3.
