MAJORDA: Defending itself before the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) Parliamentary Committee, the ‘bigwig’ iron ore mining companies, under scanner for environmental deterioration, alleged that some ‘blacksheep’ involved in major violations have brought bad name to the mining sector.
The Parliamentary Committee headed by Member of Parliament (MP) Ashwani Kumar, pulled up State government and Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) over their failure to act stringently on the recommendations of Justice M B Shah Commission report on illegal mining.
The Committee, during their visit, observed that mining has led to complete destruction of environment and pollution of surface and ground water.
During their 90 minute long meeting, the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) President and mine owner Shivanand Salgaoncar, highlighted the various problems faced by the mining firms in resumption of mining activities. “The mine owner informed the Committee that there are some ‘blackships’ in the industry who have violated maximum environmental norms thereby bringing bad name to the industry,” a highly placed sources confirmed HERALD.
“While blaming blackships, he (Salganocar) claimed that the big players who have been into this business for decades, has followed every rule and has undertaken iron ore activities within the limit,” sources said.
The Committee has directed DMG to submit a detail action taken report on Justice Shah Commission, that had pointed out that almost every single mining company is involved in violations and illegal mining activities like excess production, encroachment, invoicing, non-payment of royalty, etc. The Commission pegged illegal mining loot of Rs 35,000 crore.
The committee chairman also demanded to know from the chief secretary R K Srivastava and Goa State Pollution Control Board chairman as to various steps taken on water contamination by mining industry.
