Mines dept acts tough on illegal mining, books cases

PANJIM, JAN 26
Tightening noose around the illegal mining activity, the Mines and Geology department has booked cases against various mining firms for extracting mineral worth for Rs 5.06 crore for last four years.
According to the data available from the department, machinery worth crores of rupees was also sealed after the ore extraction was proved to be illegal.
The biggest case for the year was that of Rajaram Naik, who was found illegally extracting ore at Ambelim village in Sattari taluka. The department on February 5, 2010 and February 11, 2010 inspected the site and found 33,249 tons of ore. The value of mineral was estimated to be Rs 3.17 crore.
The show cause notice was issued to him on February 9, 2010 and sealed machinery was taken away on February 11, 2010. The department has also filed a police complaint in this matter and Crime Branch is investigating into it.
The second biggest case was filed against Jitendra Deshprabhu for illegally extracting ore at Corgao in Pernem taluka. Total of 53,466 tonnes of ore was extracted from this place illegally.
The department has initiated a proceeding to recover Rs 1.72 crore from Deshprabhu, a Nationalist Congress party leader and former MLA of Pernem. The inspection was conducted at his site on June 11, 2008.
In a case filed for illegal extraction of ore at Rivona in Sanguem taluka, the department has booked Patils – Ambaji Patil and Shripati Patil, for extacting 6,930 tonnes of ore worth Rs 7.62 lakh. The case against the duo is filed before Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sanguem. The site was inspected July 10, 2007.
Madhavrao Shivajirao Desai from Sancordem in Sanguem taluka was booked for illegally extracting ore. The inspection at his site which held on June6, 2008 and July 3, 2008 had found him to have extracted 5,958 tones of ore valued for Rs 6.55 lakh.
In an inspection conducted on November 10, 2009, a mine belonging to Antonio Maria de Scipiao Fernadnes at Netorlim in Sanguem taluka was stopped. The machinery was sealed as he was found to have extracted 1,688 tones of ore illegally worth Rs 1.85 crore.
In two other cases, Gurunath Kashinath Dabholkar and others were found illegally extracting ore at Dharbandora in Sanguem taluka. He has extracted 672 tonnes of ore worth Rs 73,920. His site was inspected in February and April 2008.
In a similar case, Thoto Mahadev Gaonkar and others were found guilty of extracting ore illegally on august 03, 2009. He had extracted 380 tonnes of ore worth Rs 41,800.