Mining association admits to illegal exports from Goa
November 21st, 2011 - 9:07 pm ICT by IANS
Panaji, Nov 21 (IANS) An association of leading mine owners in Goa Monday admitted to illegal mining and exports of iron ore in Goa, but expressed concern over a “possible ban” on shipments of the mineral sent abroad.
In a written statement here, members of the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA), which represents the bulk of the several thousand crore worth mining industry in Goa, has also said that the export boom to China had resulted in a spurt of illegal mining, thanks to “traders and fly-by-night” operators.
“The association doesn’t deny that there are certain illegalities in mining sector and in particular in the spectrum of exports in this state…However, a blanket ban on the industry can never be a solution since it will lead to a destabilisation of Goa’s economic apparatus,” said P.K. Mukherjee, managing director of Sesa Goa Limited.
He claimed that the mining industry in Goa contributed approximately 35 percent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mining as an industry attracts Rs.17,000 crore in form of foreign exchange and brings Rs.6,000 crore in the form of direct revenues to the state and central governments.
Mukherjee called for a strict monitoring apparatus and systemic changes to ensure that those guilty of illegal mining be brought to book.
The central government-appointed Justice M.B. Shah Commission is expected to submit its report on illegal mining in the state in December.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the government of a Rs.25,000 crore illegal mining scam, saying it was bigger than the Bellary mining scam in Karnataka.
Goa exported 54 million tons of iron ore in the last fiscal from its nearly 100 operational open cast iron ore mines.
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- Hike in iron ore export duty irks Goa mining industry - Jan 04, 2012
- Iron ore export from Goa to dip next fiscal: Exporters body - Oct 04, 2011
- Goa mining scam worth Rs.10,000 crore: Congress legislator - Sep 17, 2011
- 'Fly by night mining operators creating problems' - Nov 17, 2011
- Leakage of Goa mining report to be raised in parliament - Nov 21, 2011
- Goa port to tackle dubious iron ore shipments - Oct 17, 2011
- Will Congress do a Yeddyurappa with Goa's Kamat? (Letter from Goa) - Sep 21, 2011
- Iron ore barge owners want cap on vessels - Nov 11, 2011
- Goa industry mulls conveyor belts to transport ore - May 19, 2010
- Goa mine owners stashed black money in Swiss banks: CPI - Apr 29, 2011
- Goa, mining firms talks on creating corridor stalemated - Jul 21, 2011
- 'Goa cap on iron ore extraction a must' - Mar 30, 2012
- Vedanta Resources mines operated illegally in Goa: minister - Mar 17, 2011
Tags: bjp, blanket ban, cast iron, central government, central governments, export boom, exporters association, gross domestic product, illegal exports, iron ore mines, k mukherjee, karnataka, mineral ore, mining association, mining industry, panaji, sesa goa, several thousand, spurt, systemic changes