News and Events

After making a vocal case for sustainable mining, Goa Chief Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar's much awaited draft mining policy appears to have turned its back on a crucial recommendation of a government committee on capping iron ore extraction. The draft policy, which was tabled on the last day of the monsoon session of the Goa assembly Thursday by Mr Parrikar, who is also mines minister, advocates a 45 million tonne annual cap on the extraction of iron ore, even as the Goa Golden Jubilee Development Council chaired by eminent scientist Mr Raghunath Mashelkar, has recommended a 20 million tonne cap. The draft said that "No strain on any infrastructure will be created as the existing infrastructure has proven incapable of crossing 45 million tonnes.” The chief minister had earlier said that he was in agreement with the findings of the Mashelkar report, which was submitted to the Goa government earlier this year. The 45 million tonne cap is not only more than double that recommended by the Mashelkar committee but is more than 10 million tonnes to 15 million tonnes higher than Parrikar's earlier state figure of 30 million tonnes to 35 million tonnes. Mr Parrikar said a few days after coming to power in March said that "We cannot allow extraction of 55 million tonnes like it has happened earlier. Something like 30 million tonnes to 35 million tonnes can be all right.” But for all intents and purposes, the unbridled extraction will continue when the mining season begins in September after the monsoon recedes because a law on the issue, in whatever form it takes, will not be in place by then. The draft policy will be put in the public domain for 15 days after which the cabinet will take a call on the suggestions received. This process will take about 45 days. However, the assembly, which will consider the bill cleared by the cabinet, is scheduled to meet only in October-November.