The Future We Need
On April 21, 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that the ‘Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund’ be created. The stated objective was to ensure Intergenerational Equity (IE) and Sustainable Development (SD) in relation to Iron Ore mining as enshrined in the India Constitution under Article 21 ‘Right to Life’.
The Archbishop of Goa, Filipe Neri Ferrão, at the Annual Civic Reception on the occasion of Christmas (at Archbishop’s House, 28.12.2016) in his address highlighted Goa’s mining- related corruption and weak governance. The extract from his speech as follows:-
Mineral extraction came to an abrupt halt in 2012 following publication of the Shah Commission Report. Exports of Iron ore had been at a steady rate for over 50 years but from 2007 they soared due to a surge in demand from China. The resultant mineral price-hike prompted dramatic, unrestricted expansion in Goan mining activity.
Goans have lost Rs. 10 lakhs each as a result of the recent iron ore mining lease renewals. GMM has a strategy to recover this loss but the public are also needed to reinforce a unified action by lending individual support.
Catch our full series of articles here as we explain the mining issue in depth.
Stakes were high; iron ore was in demand; prices soared; mining and corruption became inseparable bedfellows and the mighty roar of trucks overtook the window pane oyster as the ubiquitous symbol of Goan life. Damning reports by the Shah commission, followed by the 2014 Supreme Court judgment exposed a dark web of corruption involving politicians, officials, administrators and mining regulators.
Against claims made by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar that 40 to 45 iron ore mining leases may commence operations this season, mining companies appear to be hesitant to resume operations owing to various factors like ore production cap, taxation, slag market value, reduction of the seven-month season to four months making the business unfeasible. The mining industry must also …
The iron ore mining industry suffered a turn of events when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) dealt notices to 24 mining leases that have been operating without valid Environmental Clearances. According to the petition filed by Goa Foundation, Dr Claude Alvares said they have sought interim relief that the lease holders be asked to stop mining operations and commence fresh process …
Finally we have a Satellite based Mining Surveillance System that was launched on 15th Oct, 2016 by the Govt. of India to curb any illegal mining activities in the country. This kind of a system was one of our key supporting recommendations from the movement. http://www.gizmodo.in/indiamodo/Surveillance-System-To-Monitor-Illegal-Mining-Launched/articleshow/54894906.cms