TheGoan:Why is GMOEA not willing to get registered through Goa Barge Owners Association(GBOA)?
SwaminathanShridhar: This issue is a non-issue. Our corebusiness is export of iron ore. Barge is one department of our member companiesand a department of some company cannot become a member of GBOA. It’s as simpleas that.
Secondly, all barges are registered withthe Captain of Ports. We have sent the copies of this registered information tothe Director of Mines and Geology.
We have also sent a letter to the departmentexplaining our stand on registration that the lease holder or sister companylease holder, if having a barge, need not be a member of GBOA. Principally hehas agreed.
TG:How many members of GMOEA are positivefor getting registered with GBOA? How many of them are opposing?
SS:The question of registration with GBOAdoes not arise.
TG:Thetotal number of GMOEA members and its sister concern, The Goa MiningAssociation?
SS:GMOEA has 23 members and GMA has 70.
TG:Thetotal number of barges owned by GMOEA members.
SS: Few. I don’twant to disclose the exact number.
(TheGoan did some research and found out that its approximately 60. See box).
TG:Arethere some members who own mines, own barges and are registered with GBOA? Ifyes, who are they and how many?
SS:I don’t think so. GBOA was a part of us few years ago. Its office was here, inthe very same office where we are sitting today. We parted when our interestsbegan mismatching.
(Twobarges owned by Fomento are registered with GBOA).
TG:Thefigures of last 5 years of iron ore “ produced, transported and sold / exportedby GMOEA members.
SS:We are expecting 43.5 million tonnes of total iron ore exports during 2011-12.The Goan ore exports are 38 million tonnes. The reason for this fall in theexports is attributed to two reasons “ dumps were not allowed to export anddemand in the international market was less.
TG:Thetotal number of barges of GBOA that are hired by exporters.
SS:Our member companies hire barges as and when required. There is no fixed numberas such.
TG:Whatis the best thing about Draft Mining Policy?
SS:We will be submitting in due time to thegovernment our say on the Draft Mining Policy once the stand of GMOEA isfinalised.
TG:What kind of amendments do you suggest?
SS:We will be presenting our suggestion andopinions to the government in due time. It is too early to say anything rightnow.
