There is expected to be chaos in the Goa assembly when the Bharatiya Janata Party raises the issue of illegal mining again the ruling Congress-led goverment. The issue hit the headlines after the Shah Commission began probing the illegalities pertaining to the mining industry in Goa.
The government records show that from the 66 mining lessees -- 15,444,245 tons (15 million metric tons) were extracted illegally in the past three years. Even if we take the sale price of that iron ore extracted at Rs 4,000 per metric ton as per the lowest market value of iron-ore sold in the open market; it will give you a sum total amounting to over Rs 6,100 crore -- which is a estimate of the illegal mining done in Sattari and Sanguem as per the government of Goa records.
The following are the cases being probed by the Shah Commission:
- R S Shetye & Bros in its mines, TC No 70/51 had not obtained environmental clearance under the Wildlife Protection Act from the chief wildlife local warden, yet in 2008-09 it extracted 1,171,234 tonnes and in 2009-10 it extracted 1,177,707 tons. The estimated cost of the ore extracted is Rs 939 crore.
- Sesa Goa in its mines, TC No 6/55 had not obtained environment clearance as well yet extracted 745,562 tonnes in 2008-09, 665,976 tonnes 2009-10 and 512,378 tons 2010-2011 (up to January). The cost: Rs Rs 769 crore. In its mine in TC No 28/51 the company extracted 26,732 tonnes above the environmental clearance quantity capping which amounts to over Rs 10 crore.
- V G Quenim mining lease of TC 16/55 had an environmental clearance quantity capping of only 437,000 tonnes per annum. Yet in 2008-09 it extracted 224,683 tonnes more and in 2009-10 it extracted 281,401 more making a gross total over 506,083 tonnes more than what was permitted. It is worth over Rs 202 crore.
- Chowgule & Co in its mine in TC 31/55 also did not obtain its environmental clearance from the wildlife authorities yet it mined 199,937 tonnes in 2008-09, 232,795 tonnes in 2009-10 and 120,273 tonnes up to January 2011. A total of 553,005 tonnes of iron ore was illegally extracted which amounts to Rs 221 crore. In TC No 41/56 this company has extracted 60,366 tonnes illegally since it did not have its EC from the forest department. It illegally extracted ore worth over Rs 24 crore.
- Damodar Mangalji & Co in TC 95/52 extracted a total of 17,500 tonnes in the past three years; however it did not have its EC from the CWLW. Cost Rs 7 crore. But in TC No 2/71 for the last three years with EC it extracted 74,708 tonnes illegally worth Rs 29 crore.
- VS Dempo in TC No 20/54 extracted 164,656 tonnes above the EC quantity capping for the last three years, illegal mining worth over Rs 65 crore. In TC No 5/54 it extracted 388,352 tonnes more that EC quantity capping permission worth over Rs 155 crore.
- In TC No 7/41 Emco Goa Pvt Ltd had not obtained the EC from the wildlife authorities yet in the past three years it has extracted 99,627 tonnes from its leased mine worth over Rs 39 crore, illegally. The contractor as per government records is Minas E Minerias De Goa Ltd
- In TC No 88/52 Soc, Timblos Irmaos went 28,964 tonnes above EC quantity capping, when computed it amounts to Rs 11 crore. However, in TC No 87/53 it did not have it EC from the wildlife authorities yet is extracted a total of 1,070,675 tonnes of iron ore amounting to Rs 428 crore in the past three years.
- VM Salgaocar & Bros in TC No 50/53 extracted a total of 814,999 tonnes of iron ore even when it did not have it is EC from the wildlife authorities, this ore extract is worth over Rs 325 crore. In the TC No 13/55 the company has extracted 159,383 tonnes more the EC quantity capping permitted, this iron ore is worth over Rs 67 crore. All this in the past three years.
- NCP leader Prafulla Hede's company having his mine in TC No 30/50 extracted iron ore even though it did not have the EC clearance of 22,087 tonnes worth over Rs 8 crore.
- A mine leased in the name of the late Cipriano DeSouza in TC No 7/58 even though it had no clearance from the wildlife authorities extracted iron ore of 152,049 tonnes in the last three years at a currently valued amount of Rs 60 crore. This mining contractor is Salgaocar Mining Industries.
- The lessee company Mohanlal Rege in TC No 50/58 according to the Department of Mines record extracted only 3,848 tonnes in the last three years but it did not its EC from the forest department. The value amount when compared to the other companies is Rs 1.53 crore.
- The mine lessee belonging to the Late Atmaram Palondicar in TC No 17/49 extracted 210,000 tonnes of iron ore worth over Rs 84 crore even though it had not got the EC clearance required under the Wildlife Protection Act and from the wildlife authorities.
- Shantilal Kushaldas & Bros Pvt Ltd in TC No 28/52 extracted 228,367 tonnes of iron ore with getting the EC clearance from the forest department even though it got a clearance from the wildlife authorities. The value of the ore extracted is estimated to be over Rs 91 crore.
- Chowgule & Co in TC No 22/50 extracted in 2009-10 192,270 tonnes of iron ore more than the EC quantity capping permissible. The estimated value of this illegal extraction is Rs 76 crore.
- In the mining lease belonging to Ravindra T Deulkar at TC No 20/51, 112,288 tonnes of iron ore was extracted even though no EC from wildlife authorities was obtained. The estimated value of the illegal mining on this mine is Rs 45 crore. The contractor of this mine is the Timblos Mineral Pvt Ltd.
- In TC No 65/51 belonging to the mining lease holder the Late Amalia Rodrigues Fiquereido even though there was no EC clearance from the Forest Department yet 230,956 tonnes was extracted which is worth Rs 92 crore. The contractor to this mine as per government records is Imran Traders.
- Sesa Goa in its mine in TC No 69/51 extracted over 3,646,214 tonnes of iron ore and it did not even have the EC clearance under the Wildlife Protection Act. It is a shocking amount of Rs 1,458 crore according to market estimates in the past three years.
- Mines owners Mineira National Ltd in TC No 62/51 extracted 463,866 tonnes in the past three years over and above the EC quantity capping permitted to this mine. The ore extracted is worth over Rs 185 crore. The contractor is Hardesh Ores Pvt Ltd.
- N S Narvekar mines in TC 40/51 did not get its EC clearance from the forest department yet it extracted 323,700 tonnes in the last three years. The amount is estimated to be worth Rs 129 crore. The contractor to this mine as per government records is Hardesh Ores Ltd.
- Soc Timblos Irmaos Ltd in TC No 143/53 extracted 62,803 tonnes more the EC quantity capping permitted in January 2011; the iron-ore is worth Rs 25 crore.
- The mining lease company Sova (Balkrishna Avde) in TC No 45/54 had not got EC clearance from the wildlife department yet it extracted 1,144, 545 tonnes of iron ore estimated at value of over Rs 457 crore.
- In TC No 41/54 belonging to mining lease holder the late Ahilibai Sardesai, without an EC clearance from the wildlife authorities this mine extracted 817,506 tonnes in the last three years valued at over Rs 327 crore. The contractor of this mine as per government records is VS Dempo & Co Pvt Ltd.
- Mines owners Marzook & Cadar Ltd in TC No 4/55 did not have the EC according to the rules of the Wildlife Protection Act and it extracted 306,424 tonnes in the last three years valued at over Rs 122 crore.
- In TC No 2/57 belonging to Mahableshwar Garco 121,000 tonnes of iron ore was extracted even though this mine also did not have its EC clearance according to the Wildlife Protection Act rules. The estimated value is over Rs 48 crore.
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