Illegal mining: Goa to review all files cleared in 10 years

PANAJI: In an effort to weed out illegal mining activity, Goa government is reviewing all files cleared by the state mines and geology department over a decade.

Mines and Geology department director Prasanna Acharya, in an affidavit before Bombay High Court bench at Goa, said he has initiated steps to review all files of the department which were processed during the last 10 years.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had pledged to nail illegal mining activity in the state by cleansing the department and also by reviewing all files cleared during the last ten years.

The Parrikar government has already suspended the then director of mines, Arvind Lolienkar, holding him responsible for the irregularities in the mining department.

The directorate of mines and geology has filed an affidavit, responding to the writ petition filed by NGO- Goa Foundation, against illegalities in the ore mining sector of Goa.

Acharya has submitted that the department has designed a new website which is being audited.

"After the launch of website, matters like issuance of royalty challans, no objection certificates for export, issuance of transit passes along with other aspects to curb illegal mining activities in the state and efficiently monitor the legal mining would be tackled," the director has pleaded.

The department will finalise the new Goa Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2012 to repeal and replace the 2004 rules within three weeks, he said in the affidavit.