The Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) has advised the Government against imposition of a cap on ore extraction in the state and said the decision should be left to the mining companies themselves.
“Any cap is generally a deterrent. Prima facie, a deterrent is always debatable to any trade chamber due to differing opinions. Each one, of course, has its own merits,” a GMOEA spokesman told PTI in an interview.
“Moreover, we feel mining companies themselves should decide on these issues,” he said.
The idea of capping the quantum of ore that can be extracted from Goan soil was mooted during the last Assembly Session after environmentalists pointed out that there has been extensive environmental degradation in the state due to this activity.
The Opposition BJP had called for a 35 million tonnes cap on ore extraction in the state.
The GMOEA has now appointed the Indian School of Mines for a ‘Regional Impact Assessment Study' on the mining industry in Goa.
ISM study
“ISM has started the study. It will give some indication of the cap,” the spokesman said. “However, having said this, we also wish to add that adequate measures should be adopted to minimise the impact of such operations,” he said.
Responding to a question, the GMOEA said it does not support illegal mining activity in the state.
The mining industry has said that state authorities should also make a clear distinction about “illegalities” and “irregularities” in the mining sector, according to the spokesman.
What is illegal
“The facts of each case will differ and there cannot be a common conclusion for such cases,” he said, adding that mining can be said to be illegal if one is producing ore without having a valid mining lease under the MMDR Act or possibly working in notified forest areas without approval of the MoEF.
On the other hand, “Irregularities can mean not being in full compliance with numerous terms and conditions under which a lessee has to work with a valid mining lease,” he asserted.
In this regard, “the magnitude of the irregularity is an important factor to be considered,” he said.