Indian iron ore mining mess - Goa miners request for personal hearings.

Economic Times reported that iron ore miners in Goa, whose leases were temporarily suspended by the state government after an expert panel found illegalities, have requested personal hearing in the matter.

The BJP led government in the state last week suspended mining after the Centre appointed MB Shah Commission's reports, which blamed all stakeholders, were tabled in Parliament. In a follow up, the environment ministry has said it will suspend 93 clearances in the state.

The nearly 50 year old Goa Mineral Ore Exporters' Association said in separate letters to the ministry of mines and the Commission that "Principles of natural justice and equity demanded that we should have been afforded an opportunity of a personal hearing.”

The letter said that "Therefore, we find it imperative for us to request, although we believe it not to be explicitly due, that no action be taken on the industry, or its members, without an opportunity of being heard.”

Mining, which accounts for more than a third of the state's GDP, raked in INR 17,000 crore in foreign exchange last year. The state is home to Sesa Goa, Dempo, VM Salgaoncar and Fomento Resources, who like the other miners there, export mainly to China. Steel makers in China mix the low-grade ore, which has no takers in India, with superior Brazilian imports.

If exports are banned, traders and miners risk missing out on revenues already falling due to a downtrend in international iron ore prices. If the commission's recommendations are accepted, several miners in the state could lose their leases.

The Shah Commission has been investigating illegal mining of iron ore and manganese in, as per their occurrence, largely in the states of Odisha, Jharkahand and Goa.

The commission's first two reports on illegalities and issues in Goa, tabled during the monsoon session of Parliament, blamed pretty much everybody: the environment ministry for granting permissions indiscriminately, the former Congress state government and its departments, and the Indian Bureau of Mines for allowing "illegal" mining to continue.

Source : steelguru.com