Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Goa Foundation today said that the Government of Goa simply refuses to ensure transparency in the conduct of these operations and processes to recommence mining activities in the state.
“The Government of Goa simply refuses to ensure transparency in the conduct of these operations and processes to recommence mining activities in the state. The department of mines website does not disclose, till date, any prior information in respect of the determination and demarcation of mineral blocks which will be subject to e-auction procedure to be initiated from 17th August 2022,” said Dr Claude Alvares.
He said that Natural resources, including minerals, are a shared inheritance where the state is the trustee on behalf of the people to ensure that future generation
receive the benefit of inheritance.
“It goes on to say that “State Governments will endeavour to ensure that the full value of the extracted minerals is received by the State; we here at the Goa Foundation have repeatedly been attempting to persuade and convince the DMG that the mineral resources of Goa belong to the people of the state,” said Alvares.
The activist said that alienation or sale must be made within the framework of a transparent procedure developed in participation with the public (as owners) and also to the persons in the mining areas who would be directly affected by the 50-year lease period of the new grants.
“The question still needing an answer is the role of the Goa Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), which the Goa government has set up but for which the rules are yet to be framed: why has the Goa government not reserved the minerals for the GMDC, which it has all the powers to do? Why was the GDMC set up by law if auctions do take place?” Question Alvares.
Meanwhile, GF said that with a duty of 50% on the export of ores, this will only end up with the prices being lowered to encourage disinterested parties.
“The National Mineral Policy requires zero loss from mining transactions, as public wealth is involved. Such auctions will end up with phenomenal losses to the owners of the ore, that is, the people and especially all future generations of the state.
