Goa govt to renew efforts to restart iron ore exports: CM

PANAJI: After failing to resolve differences between mining company Sesa Iron Ore and the truck owners, the Goa government has said it would renew the efforts to restart the iron ore exports in the state.

"I have called for a meeting of the Directors of Transport and Mines, along with others, on Monday to take a decision on the mining export issue," said Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar after a meeting with BJP legislators here yesterday.

Iron-ore transport from mining lease of Sesa Iron Ore was stopped on December 4 after the truckers resorted to agitation.

The truck operators are demanding a higher rate per ton of the ore carried by them.

Parsekar said the state government has already decided certain rate for e-auctioned cargo, which is agreeable to the truck owners.

"We would have to decide rate for the fresh extracted ore, which should be acceptable to the truckers," he said.

The state government is committed for resumption of mining industry in the state, the Chief Minister said.

In the past, the state government had tried to bring together truck owners and the officials of Sesa Iron Ore to resume the exports, but the talks had failed, owing to the truckers sticking to their demand of higher rate.

Notably, the Mining industry in the state was put on hold for around three years by the Supreme Court owing to allegations of illegalities.

The ban was lifted in April, 2014.