PANJIM: With the iron ore mining industry having come to a standstill, Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) is keeping a close watch to ensure there is no theft of extracted ore lying within the leases and that all safety measures are put in place by lessees ensuring safety of people and their property situated adjacent to leasehold areas.
Leaseholders will be held accountable in case of theft of ore or any casualties due to non-compliance of safety measures at mining sites. Lessees have also been directed to continue pumping water from the mining leases for the purpose of drinking, agriculture and horticulture of the villagers. In this regard, directions are being issued to the leaseholders concerned.
With Supreme Court quashing second renewals granted to 88 mining leases, all operations, including extraction and transportation of ore, came to a halt in the State from Friday. In all 37 mining leases were operational in the current financial year and had produced 10.58 million tonnes of ore of which below two million tonnes were exported.
“DMG had started monitoring mining operations in the State from March 7. Post the ban, we have continued our monitoring to ensure proper compliance and no violations. Since the ore from mines shall be exposed, there is likelihood that such ore may be subjected to theft. We have asked the leaseholders to make necessary security arrangements till the government puts its security in place,” a DMG official said.
Since the mining lease area is now government property, in case of any theft of ore, the lessees will be held accountable. DMG has already approached police for putting in place necessary security arrangements along with daily inspection of ore.
DMG has also directed leaseholders to continue pumping water from mining leases for drinking, agriculture and horticulture purpose and requested Water Resources Department not to claim any water cess on such pumping activity.
“The pumping of water from mining leases and safety measures in leasehold areas are not in any way connected with mining operations but are measures which are required as a part of social responsibility,” Mines Director Prasanna Acharya said.
“The safety measures are required to be continued in view of the fact that exploitation of such leasehold areas have necessitated certain safety measures to be undertaken not only in the interest of mineral development in efficient and scientific manner but also for the safety of people and their property situated adjacent to the lease hold areas,” he added.
Acharya said that stopping of pumping of water may deprive villagers of regular supply of drinking water which is required for basic human existence and is required to live with dignity which is fundamental right protected by Highest Court of Justice.
