Latest news with #VCandavelou
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt cancels 1st auction of ore dumps, to alter procedure
Panaji: State govt cancelled the first auction of low-grade iron ore dumps as it decided to change the procedure for auctioning the same. Chief secretary V Candavelou, who is also mines secretary, told TOI that state govt would bring minor changes in the dump policy to change the procedure of auction. After completing the first day of e-auctioning low-grade iron ore dumps, the directorate of mines and geology (DMG) cancelled the remaining three phases of auctions of dumps that were scheduled for Jan 31 and Feb 3 and 4 due to a 'technical issue'. The auctions were subsequently cancelled. The Supreme Court allowed Goa govt to carry out dump mining activity in the state in accordance with an expert committee's report. Accordingly, the policy for regulating iron ore dump handling was notified on Sep 14, 2023. The dump handling policy, 2023, paved the way to deal with the 700 million tonnes of low-grade iron ore lying inside and outside mining leases across Goa, and to export 25 million tonnes per annum. The DMG conducted the first auction for four dumps, and bids were accepted only for three dumps. Due to a technical reason, the auction of one dump did not start. State govt put 18 low-grade iron ore dumps up for auction. Goa Foundation said that the DMG should cancel the auctions and re-conduct them after first granting a proper mining lease and obtaining all necessary approvals, as required by the expert committee on dumps and the various provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. State govt received 125 bids for the 18 dumps that were put up for auction. A total of 173 mining companies and traders showed interest in purchasing them. Govt fixed a reserve price of 22% for the first e-auction of low-grade iron ore dumps in the state. If the Indian Bureau of Mines' price is Rs 100 per tonne for low-grade iron ore and the mining companies purchase the ore at auction at the 22% reserve price, the companies must pay Rs 22 per tonne to govt. Govt also fixed the criteria for traders and mining companies to participate in the e-auction — the bidders should have a minimum net worth of Rs 25 crore. Govt put up the 18 low-grade iron ore dumps with a total quantity of around 30 million tonnes for auction. Up to 25 million tonnes of ore from dump handling can be exported. Of the 18 dumps, 15 are in South Goa. A senior official said that the dump handling policy was challenged in court. Recently, state cabinet amended the dump mining policy to allow erstwhile leaseholders to handle the low-grade iron ore dumped by them in another mining lease that was never operated.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Time of India
Shirgao Jatra Stampede: Officials Given Extra Week to Respond to Show-Cause Notices
Panaji: The officers who were issued a show-cause notice in connection with the Shirgao Jatra stampede, that killed six and injured 74 persons, were given one more week to file their reply. The officers sought the summary of the inquiry report to file their reply. Chief secretary V Candavelou told TOI , 'We have provided the summary of the inquiry report to the officers who have been issued a show cause notice. We have given them time to file their reply.' On May 13, state govt had issued show-cause notices to eight officials, including the district magistrate, North Goa SP, deputy collector of Bicholim, DySP Bicholim, mamlatdar, PIs of Bicholim and Mopa police stations, and the panchayat secretary of Shirgao, who were on duty during the incident and have been transferred since. Chief minister Pramod Sawant, making the report of the fact-finding inquiry committee (FFIC) public, said that the report collective ly held the temple committee, district administration, district police, village panchayat, and crowd behaviour, particularly that of 'dhonds', responsible for the tragedy. Based on the preliminary inquiry, govt transferred then North Goa collector Sneha Gitte, then SP North Goa Akshat Kaushal, Bicholim DySP Jivba Dalvi, Bicholim PI Dinesh Gadekar, and Bicholim deputy collector Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, with immediate effect. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Luxury Meets Legacy at Signature Global SPR, Gurgaon Signature Global Book Now Undo Six people died and 74 others were injured in the stampede early on Saturday morning. Three of the victims— two women and a 16-year-old boy — were identified as 'dhonds', special devotees of the goddess. The stampede, perhaps the first in post-Liberation Goa's history, occurred on the second day of the five-day jatra that began on May 3. Some injured people continue to be admitted to the hospital for medical treatment. The Shree Devi Lairai Devasthan committee stated that the state administration fell short in making the necessary arrangements for the jatra. In Shirgao, a dedicated road will be built, and staggered timings will be made for the 'dhonds' to go from the temple pond to the 'homkund'. The govt will widen the road before the next jatra, taking locals into confidence, he said. 'To ensure that such a stampede does not take place in Goa in the future, we will take precautions,' Sawant said.
