Goa's mining industry, in the
last six months, has reported almost 10 per cent of its iron ore being exported
under doubtful circumstances despite being under strict surveillance for
illegal mining activities.
Records indicate that between
April-November, 2011, total 24 million tonnes iron ore was exported from both
the ports in Goa-Panaji port and Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).
Of the entire export, only 21 MMT
was registered with the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) and the
rest remains unclassified, GMOEA Secretary, Mr Glenn Kalavampara, said.
Suspicion shrouds 3 MMT of Iron
Ore, which was exported by small-time traders, usually termed as fly-by-night
operators.
Goa witnessed unprecendented
regulatory measures by the State Government after the Mr Justice M B Shah
Commission began its probe into illegal mining activities.
Around 400-odd traders, who were
linkages between exporters and mine owners, were summoned by the State Mines
and Geology Department following which it was found that many of these
operators worked with fake addresses.
The situation was expected to be
improving this financial year after much discussion on the unclassified ore but
it remained the same.
The ore which is not registered
with GMOEA has a question mark on its source, which means that there is a
possibility that it could have been extracted illegally.
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