PANAJI
The State Forest Department seems to be completely clueless with regards to the quantity of iron ore mineral rejects or dumps lying on the forest land as well as the stability of these dumps. The department was on the radar of the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for failing to perform its statutory duty with regards to the identification, assessment and evaluation of dumps.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has earlier this week decided to seek report from the Forest department on the stability of the iron ore dumps lying on the forest land including wildlife sanctuaries before allowing its e-auction and whether handling of such dumps would be in the interest of flora, fauna and wildlife.
According to the sources, the MoEF&CC’s Regional Empowered Committee (REC), Bengaluru has pulled up the department for not making clear findings regarding the stability of the dumps lying on the forest land. “The department has till date not undertaken any study to establish how it is in the interest of flora, fauna, and wildlife to disturb the old dump instead of assisting its ecological restoration,” sources said.
Sources said that the REC had sought data on the number of mining dumps in the forest areas and also whether any amount of such dumps have been disposed of. “However, despite repeated reminders, REC was stunned to see no data,” sources said.
REC during their one of the meetings had clearly informed the Forest department as well as the DMG that it is important in the interest of the government for realising the proper value and to prevent illegalities, that the dumps are assessed properly by the competent authority.
As per the declarations provided by the Concessionaires/ erstwhile Lessees, the total stock of dumps in Goa exceeds 700 Million Metric Tons as on date.
