SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: The year 2013 continued to be bad for Goa’s mining business as stakeholders failed to get much-needed relief. On the contrary, the noose around the closure of the activity was tightened further. Apart from the ongoing mining ban imposed by the State government, action against ECs by the Union government reinforced by the ad interim ban of the Supreme Court, the State Mines Ministry cancelled nearly 252 mining leases.
At the fag end of the year, the Supreme Court allowed e-auction of some material left at the at jetties, but that too under supervision of a court-appointed body, in what could be an indication that it was not totally satisfied by actions taken by the State. Surprisingly, the State administration that was trumpeting that the justice Khandeparkar committee would look into all aspects of the mining industry suddenly wound it up in October without the committee doing anything at all.
On the flip side the complete halt of mining activities, however, gave a sigh of relief to people living along the seven mining-rich taluka’s of the State in the form of clean environmental conditions. Several also went back to agriculture, something that they had left decades back. Clean drinking water, clean air, no pollution, no traffic congestion and less number of accidents, are the benefits accrued as a result of closure of mining.
The Parrikar-led government took some much-needed steps to start the inquiry into the illegal mining scam in the State, which according to Justice M B Shah Commission of inquiry is about Rs 35,000 crore. Handling over the criminal case related to illegal mining to the Crime Branch and the case related to civil liabilities to Lokayukta were two such major decisions. While the criminal case was transferred to Special Investigating Team (SIT), the civil liability case remained unregistered before the anti-corruption agency with sudden resignation of Lokayukta.
As the year moved towards its end, it brought some “cheer” for the mining companies and some senior politicians involved in the illegal mining scam, as the Union Government decided to wind up Justice M B Shah Enquiry Commission, which was set to expose further illegalities into the sector.
An interim order by the Apex Court allowed e-auctioning of 11.48 million tones of iron ore lying unused in the State brining some cheer to the State administration, but the mining firms were still ‘uncertain” about what this held for them.
In the very first month of the year, faced with the ban mining-dependent people held a dharna for nearly 50 days in the capital city pressing for commencement of legal mining immediately. The people had in February marched to New Delhi and met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh with their demand.
The State government came in for severe criticism from mining stakeholders, who alleged that the government had failed to make a strong representation to the Supreme Court, putting across the plea of the community, whose livelihood was at stake due to mining ban. Government faced criticism for delaying the filing of affidavit in the Court. Even after the affidavit was filed, there was no change in the court ruling. In March around 100-odd mining dependent people heckled anti-mining activists and disrupted a seminar on M B Shah Commission report organized by Goa RTI forum. The green and social activists from the state had accused the government for provoking the incident.
On March 9, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced “doles” for people affected by mining, which included truck owners and those rendered jobless. A financial assistance of Rs 12,000 per month was announced to both the categories.
The Government notified the Goa mining policy 2013 and The Goa (prevention of illegal mining, storage and transportation of minerals) Rules 2013, to curb illegal mining. It also formed the State Level Co-ordination-cum-Empowered Committee under chairmanship of Chief Secretary for regulating mining activities in the State.
To regulate the dumps of iron ore rejects in private and government properties, the State notified the land use policy by making necessary amendment to the Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2013. The move was basically to generate revenue.
In June, Chief Minister along with a delegation of MLAs, mining workers and panchayat members met Prime Minister for immediate solution to the mining crisis. It also demanded a financial package of Rs 3,000 crore towards rehabilitation of people affected by mining closer.
As year 2013 entered its last phase, beginning from September, some major decisions like cancellation of mining leases were taken. Government terminated 40 mining leases which delayed filing of the ‘J Form’. The move was condoned by the former Congress government. Out of 592 valid mining leases in Goa, the State government cancelled 252mining leases between September and November. These were the mining leases, owners of which failed to prove that they had either applied for the leases’ first renewal or that the leases were in operation between November 1987 and November 2007.
During the year, Mines department furnished data to central ministry on the distance of 179 mining leases from Goa’s six wildlife sanctuaries and one national park. Of the total 179 mining leases surveyed for mapping their distance from wildlife sanctuaries (WLS), almost 93 per cent of mines were found to be within 10 kms of WLS.
Now all eyes are set on 2014 as to when the government would commence e-auction of the iron ore.
