Team Herald
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said that Government’s target is to ensure immediate resumption of iron ore mining activities, even as the industry, in the current international scenario, is no more profitable. Parrikar has assured House to initiate recovery proceedings against the lease holders in next two months time.
Parrikar said that post ongoing monsoon session of the State Assembly, he will hold detail discussion with the MLAs from the mining belts and work out a proposal to be placed before Central government in Delhi.
He also ruled out filing an intervention application in the Supreme Court at this stage, claiming that it won’t result into long-term solution.
Congress Legislators Pratapsinh Rane, Luizinho Faleiro and Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar raised the issue about resumption of mining and recovery of the money from mine owners due to illegal mining activity during Question Hour.
Responding to a volley of questions, Chief Minister said that the target before the government is to ensure immediate resumption of mining activities.
“Mines are closed as per Supreme Court directions and we have to work out a solution within the Court order. I have interacted with all the stakeholders and have heard their demands,” he said.
“I will also talk to concerned MLAs from the mining belt post-Assembly session and then make a proposal before whoever required in Delhi in August,” he added.
To a question by Pratapsingh Rane that government has to take some immediate steps to protect the interest of those dependent on the industry, Parrikar said, “The number of people dependent on the industry has gone down post 2012 ban”.
“When mining industry had closed in the year 2012, it contributed to 17-18 per cent to State Gross Domestic Product. There was a boom in mining activity between 2009 and 2012 due to which there were many people who were involved in it,” he said.
“When it resumed again in the year 2014-15, it contributed to only five per cent of the SGDP. Considering the downfall of international iron ore prices, the mining is no more much profitable. It is a no loss, no profit business if u see the current market price which is only 40-42 dollar per ton,” Parrikar said.
“The number of people dependent on mining industry has gone down. There are 40,000 people who are dependent on this industry at this time,” he said assuring that we will take care of the people who are in this industry.
The chief minister said that the recovery of the money from the mine owners, vis-à-vis illegal mining activity has also begun. He said that Rs 300 crore has already been recovered from various mine owners while notices are issued to rest as a part of recovery proceedings.
Congress MLA Luizinho Faleiro had raised the question as to what steps has government initiated to recover the revenue loss due to illegal mining. He pointed out that while Shah Commission pegged loss to Rs 35,000 crore, State in its submission before Supreme Court said Rs 1,500 crore is due from mining companies.
“We have recovered around Rs 300 crore from different sources. 22 teams of chartered accountants have given their reports. Based on that we have issued notice and have started the procedure to recover money,” he said.
BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral informed the House that SC has stopped only 88 mining leases while there are 17-18 leases, which were not renewed and hence can still function. “The file for activation of these leases is pending with the State government,” he said.
Parrikar asked Cabral to provide the list of such mining leases to him and State would work to activate them.
