The Goan: What impactwill the temporary closure of the industry have on the economy of the state
Prasanna Acharya:The royalty earned in 2011-12 was Rs 938 crores. Initially, we were expectingRs 1000 crore royalty but obviously that estimate will fall drastically andwill finally depend on when operations resume but there will be a greater fallout.
TG Which is?
PA: There will bea huge social impact. There is unrest and anger brewing in the mining areasamong those who constitute the support system of mining-truck drivers,transporters and even workers on barges, loaders on jetties. This anger willspill out onto the streets. It’s a hugesource of worry.
TG: How long will it take for miningoperations to resume in Goa?
PA: The statewill expedite so that mining operations of those who comply with all conditionsand have all necessary clearances can commence. But I cannot say anything about the Centre, and how long it will take tocomplete the process.
TG: Is the estimatedfigure of a loss of Rs 35,000 crore due to illegality close to reality. Is itless or actually more?
PA: You see theinvestigative auditing is on; it includes chartered accountants who areformulating a check list to be used by all the mining authorities. We will cometo know the exact figure only after that.
TG: What is the DMGdoing to verify the data of existing ore in leases, in transit and jetties thathas been allowed to be exported by the government
PA: Mine ownershave given the DMG the current data of their ore on September 21. What we haveto do now is cross check the figures. The physical investigations' exercise ofDMG, in 100 mines have begun from September 25 and will be over by October 1.We will decide on a case to case basis by verifying from the monthly returns ofproduct and dispatch figures.
This will clear the state of the existing ore lying at themines and the jetties, and may a little of it at the Captain of Ports.
(*Note: An SLP movedin the Supreme Court by Goa Foundation on September 26 to restraintransportation of all leasehold areas, transit and in jetties)
