PANJIM, SEPT 3
Endorsing claims about rampant illegal mining, Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar on Friday alleged that mining ore from Sesa Goa is being stolen and sold back to the Company.
“I don’t know whether Prasun Mukherjee (MD, Sesa Goa Ltd) will know that nearly two per cent of Sesa mining ore is stolen and sold back to them…” he said at a two-day seminar on ‘Mining and Human Rights Violation’ at Dona Paula.
The MD replying to the statement asserted that Sesa Goa had made several efforts to halt illegal mining trade. “There may be stealing going on. Whenever we have caught such (illegal) cargo, we faced issues while perusing the matter…we do not procure stolen mining ores…there are issues to pursue the matter,” he said without getting into details.
He said that the due process required to bring the illegal ore dealer to book could not be fulfilled in Goa.
Earlier, the former chief minister highlighted that mining has paved its way especially in secluded areas of Goa, inhabited by tribal population who depend on agriculture for living.
“Violation starts right from the time the land is snatched…and conversion of agriculture land. It is mostly located in areas where people are poor, unaware of their rights, especially the tribals who depend on agriculture,” he said at the seminar attended by large number of students, activists and others.
He reeled off names of the villages – Rivona, Neturli, Verla, Sarjini – where their properties were claimed by miners to multiply the trade.
Parrikar claimed that mining volume in the recent times has multiplied double the time the mining ore was exported five years back.
“This year about 46 to 47 million tons iron ore is exported, which five years ago was about 22 million tons…the quantum has jumped high,” he said.
In a question by a student on strategies to control rampant mining if he was the chief minister of Goa, Parrikar’s replied on steps that could be undertaken while giving permission to mining leases.
“I feel better compensation should be given to occupants of the land… I believe in Switzerland’s policy and I feel that people and village panchayats should be given the right to decide on any proposal,” he said shooting back at the ruling Government.
He added, “What I can do as a CM and what I am saying will be slightly different as the mining policy is the Central Government law and the role of the state Government is limited.”
Parrikar further pointed out that 56 per cent of the land in Sanguem – water tank of the state – was given on mining leases. “The taluka is the catchment area of water that not only supplies water to South Goa but also some parts of North Goa. Human Rights violation is serious as 70 percent of rights of the locals are violated even without knowing the reality,” he alleged.
He said he believes in sustainable mining but the “greediness” to earn higher income was leading to rampant illegal mining in Goa. The two-day seminar is hosted by Youth for Goa in collaboration with the International Centre and Department of Political Science at Goa University.
