PANJIM: Directorate of Mines
and Geology (DMG) on Thursday cancelled the import and transit permits issued
to Vedanta Ltd for import of 12,000 metric tonnes (MT) of ore procured from
Karnataka for domestic consumption, after the company was found violating the
monitoring process of transported ore.
Mines Director Prasanna
Acharya said Vedanta Ltd, had procured 12,0OO MT lumps in an e-auction
conducted by Karnataka and obtained bulk permit dated July 14.
Acharya said that the import
and transit permits were issued upon a specific condition that the entry
tickets for trucks shall be issued at the check post at Mollem from where the
vehicle movement in Goa shall be monitored by DMG staff with the help of ICT
devices. “The firm was specifically directed to inform about arrival of ore
laden vehicles at the border check post, so that their transport activities within
the State can be monitored,” he said.
“We also wanted to ensure
that the ore transported is used only for domestic consumption,” the Director
said, adding that despite this the trucks entered the State without monitoring.
“At the Amona plant, the inspecting
team found that nearly all trucks have already unloaded the material at the
plant site even without waiting for DMG officials in clear violations of the
conditions mentioned in permit etc so also specific instructions,” director
said.
Cancelling the permit, DMG
said that no fresh import permit will be issued till a detailed inventory of
the ore unloaded is done.
“Till a foolproof system is
put in place any undue influence attempted by the company in the name of
shutting down of plant operations or jeopardizing the employment of Goans
employed etc shall be treated as direct interference in the day-to-day
administration and functioning of the department,” Acharya said.
