Goa imposes hefty fine for transporting illegal ore

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SME Times News Bureau | 14 Aug, 2012
In a severe warning to iron ore transporters ahead of the mining season, scheduled to begin in a few weeks from now, the Goa government Tuesday said that any truck found overloading ore would cost hefty Rs.5 lakh to the mining outfit.

An order issued Tuesday by Director for Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya, responsible for keeping track of the mining industry in Goa, also said that river barge owners who are found transporting illegally mined ore would be acted against.

"If overloading of carrier/vehicle is found, a fine of Rs.5 lakh per vehicle shall be imposed, which shall be recovered from the respective lease holder/trader," the directive says.

It adds that the government would terminate mining leases allotted to the lease holder if repeated transportation-related violations were reported.

Acharya also said that the regulation was the key to maintaining a proper account for the computation of royalty and to ensure that the government gets proper financial due from the mining industry.

The directive also asks truckers to ensure that dust pollution caused during road transportation should be kept to the minimum by ensuring that trucks are covered with tarpaulins.

In a separate directive to operators of river barges, which ferry iron ore from loading jetties in the hinterland's mining areas to the ports for shipping, Acharya has warned them against carrying illegally mined ore.

"The barge owner must be willing to share all relevant data concerning illegal mining acts if noticed and such other conditions stipulated during registration," Acharya has warned.

The newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party led coalition government has given mixed signals as far as the mining industry is concerned.

After accusing the erstwhile government of masterminding a Rs.25,000 crore illegal mining scam, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had told the assembly a few weeks ago that there was no illegal mining in Goa. Parrikar later retracted and said that the government could soon close down eight to nine illegal mines.