Half of Goa's e-auctioned ore still lying at jetties: CM

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today admitted that half of the ore e-auctioned in the state is still lying at the jetties, but despite this extraction of fresh ore would begin from October.
Parsekar said on the floor of the House that the state government is working towards ensuring that all the e-auctioned ore is moved out of the jetties where it is currently piled up.
"Till date there have been six e-auctions conducted by the mines department through which 6.3 million tonnes of the ore is auctioned," he told the House.
"Of the total auctioned ore, 5.6 million has been sold out grossing a revenue of Rs 706 crore to the state coffers. Almost half of the ore which has been sold is still lying at the jetties," he added.

The Chief Minister was responding to a question by BJP legislator Subhash Faldessai who raised doubts over resumption of mining activity due to existing ore on the jetties.
"How will we be able to export more ore when jetties are flooded with the ore?," he said.

Parsekar said government has been pursuing with the agencies to transport the ore from jetties.
"Because of our constant follow up this ore will be moved...All the ore would be sold. I reiterate that by October this year the mining will resume," he added.
The mining industry in the state had come to standstill after the Supreme Court ban. The ban was lifted last year allowing the state to grant fresh mining leases.