Team Herald
PANJIM: The Supreme Court is considering enhancing the fresh iron ore extraction limit for Goa, which has been currently capped at 20 million tonnes per annum.
Accordingly, Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has set a target of extracting 8 million tonnes of ore before the end of the ongoing mining season, May 31. Companies have already met the 20 million tonne extraction limit of the last financial year generating a royalty of over Rs 340 crore.
Mines Director Prasanna Acharya on Wednesday held a meeting with major mining lease holders to discuss production and transportation details for the financial year 2017-18.
During the meeting, the Director sought the industry’s co-operation to achieve the targeted production subject to enhancement by the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court is considering the enhancement of production limit in the State of Goa which is also recommended by the Expert Committee appointed by the court,” the minutes of the meeting state, quoting Acharya.
“Hence, it is the duty of the department and the industry to equitably distribute the production in eight months of the new financial year as mining activities are not carried out during the monsoon season from June to September,” he stated assuring that the new maximum limit of production on lease to lease basis would be distributed shortly.
As such, DMG has set a target of 8 million tonnes of production in the two months before end of the ongoing mining season. Lease holders have been directed to produce the details of the quantity which they are able to produce to achieve the target production.
Acharya emphasized on the fact that in the interest of royalty collection, so also in the interest of citizens residing in mining affected areas, it is equally important to dispatch the ore produced in such a manner that least inconvenience is caused to people and at the same time ensure that the quantity does not remain in the lease hold area.
During the meeting, the lease holders were informed about the need for efficient and scientific mining to be undertaken and that no illegal exploitation to be done to achieve the target. “Maximum measures are also to be adopted to curb dust pollution while transporting mined minerals,” the Director said.
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Lease holders to lose 1 lakh tonnes ore if trucks involved in accidental deaths
Warning of punitive action against lease holders, DMG has announced it will reduce the iron ore production quota by up to 1 lakh tonnes, if a truck ferrying ore is involved in an accidental death. Mines Director Prasanna Acharya, while stressing on the need for zero-tolerance to accidents and accidental deaths due to mining transportation, told lease holders that in the ongoing financial year, not even a single death relating to transportation will be tolerated and punitive action will be initiated. “There shall be reduction in ore quota allotted to any lease holder up to 1 lakh tonnes if any accidental death occurs during transportation of ore including the empty truck plying for ore extracted from such lease hold area,” Director said.
DMG has asked lease holders to deposit a sum of Rs 10 lakh within two days for accidental deaths and Rs five lakh in case of serious injuries and Rs one lakh of simple hurt – to be paid to the victim or the victim family
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