‘Illegal mining in Goa cannot be brought to book’

PANAJI - In an indirect criticism of the state government, a top official of Sesa Goa (SG) - a Vedanta Resources-owned mining company based in Goa - Friday said it was virtually impossible to fight illegal mining in Goa because of “issues faced in pursuing such matters”.

Speaking at a function on ‘Mining and human rights’ here, Prasun Mukherjee, managing director of SG, admitted that Goa was affected by illegal mining but also added that SG had made several efforts to nab those involved in the trade and the efforts to bring the culprits to book were ’stonewalled’.

“Whenever we have caught such (illegal) cargo, we have faced issues while pursuing the matter,” said Mukherjee, pointedly adding that he would not like to comment any further on the issue of illegal mining, which according to government figures has become a Rs.4,000 crore industry in the last four years.

Mukherjee, whose SG is the biggest mining outfit in the state - exporting nearly 20 million tonnes of ore - also said that the “due process” required to bring the illegal ore dealer to book, simply could not be fulfilled in Goa.

“If I caught someone stealing ore in the past, there were issues faced in pursuing the matter. I will not say anything more. I will leave it there,” Mukherjee said.

Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar and civil society groups have accused Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who is also the minister for mines, of shielding the illegal mining industry, which, according to documents tabled in the assembly, amounted to 18 percent of the total ore export of nearly 40 million tonnes annually.