Panaji, Nov 26th : .Two days after Goa Chief Minister Pramod sawant announced the imminent auction of “seven to 8” mining blocks in Goa’s territory, several green NGO organizations wrote to the Central government to blacklist any mining companies that are involved in illegal mining or have violated other central economic laws. “Misappropriation of the shared inheritance of mineral wealth.Anyone convicted of illegal mining should be disqualified according to a variety of laws, including The Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 and The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, 2016 and The Economic Offences (Inapplicability of Limitation) Act 1974,” Goa-based NGO’s, namely the Goa Foundation, Common Cause and Mineral Inheritors Rights Association, have written to the Union Minister of Mines Prahlad Joshi and to the Comptroller and Auditor General
The letter also stated that illegal mining companies should be blacklisted and banned from participating in any mining-related activity.
“With the increase in illegal miners in the country there are not adequate mechanisms to hold them responsible and take stringent actions like blacklisting them from any kind of mining activity.
The letter stated that any violation by the entity, whether it be economic, environmental, social, or other, must be sufficient to disqualify miners on the ground of questionable integrity.
They should also be prevented from managing our shared inheritance in mineral wealth.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated Wednesday that State Bank of India, a national banker, had been brought in to facilitate the sale of “six to eight iron ore mining blocks” by December 15.
This decision comes at a moment when the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state coalition government has been criticised for its tardive efforts to restart the state’s mining industry in advance of Athe state assembly elections, which are set to take place in early 2022.
Sawant also stated that the Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, which is a Central government concern, was appointed to explore the nearly 90 mining leases in the State for mineral prospects.
The newly formed Goa Mineral Development Corporation will oversee the auction of the iron ore blocks.
The Goa government created the Corporation earlier this year.The Chief Minister is the ex-officio Chairman.It will include top officials, including Secretaries in charge of Finance, Mines, and Environment.
The Corporation will also include a lawyer appointed by the state government, two chartered accountants with experience and a government-nominated geologist.
maya/pgh #NGOs #write #Centre #Demand
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