Goa govt gets tough with anti-mining protesters

Goa government has asked District Collectors to take stern action against those trying to hamper mining operations in the state.
The directive comes in the backdrop of frequent obstructions created in resumption of mining activity by certain sections of people who have been often blocking the roads to disrupt transportation of iron ore.
There have been also protests against resumption of mining operations in Goa, where the Supreme Court has lifted a ban on such activities.
"Any act of commission or omission done by any member of society to obstruct legal mining operations or transportation or storage thereof are not only to be acted against swiftly but also sternly.

"This is to be done so that law and order is maintained and a signal is sent across the state that such illegal acts of omission and commission shall not be tolerated in future," Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya said in an order issued to Collectors here today.
It is imperative that in upholding the provisions of law and enforcing the directions of apex court, all organs and instrumentalities of the state work in perfect harmony, he said.

The mining industry in Goa has resumed operations after a gap of almost two-and-a-half-years.
Acharya maintained that despite the Supreme Court allowing e-auction of ore, incidents have occurred wherein transportation of e-auctioned cargo from Pissurlem mines to Maina jetty had been stopped.

"I hereby request District Magistrates, police administration and all concerned to act sternly and swiftly against such illegal acts of individuals so that the state government is not found in contempt of order of Supreme Court," he stated.