NEW DELHI, AUG 22
Goa Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik has strongly opposed nationalisation of mines and a blanket ban on the export of iron ore, even though, he said, he is personally inclined towards socialist policies. In a debate in the Rajya Sabha on Friday on the subject of illegal mining, he opposed CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri’s demand that all mines be nationalised and export of mineral ore be banned.
Naik said that the country has not yet developed capabilities to use certain grades of iron ore locally. For example, ore extracted in Goa was basically of low grade, which has no market in the country and therefore necessarily has to be exported, he said.
Naik questioned how iron ore worth hundreds of crores of rupees disappeared, and said that a CBI inquiry is the ideal way to find out.
Referring to the Mineral Policy of the Government of India, he said that henceforth, tribals will be stakeholders in mining operations. To implement the new Mining Policy, the government has to amend the Mining Regulation Act and Rules, he said.
