Press Release
 
Panaji, Aug 21: Shantaram Naik M P strongly opposed nationalization of mines in the country  although,  he said, he  is personally inclined towards socialist policies and that in principle,  he would certainly like natural resources to be in the hands of the State.

Naik , who was participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha held on Friday, on the subject of  illegal mining , referring to CPM leader Sitaram Yechuri who demanded nationalization of mines in the country in his speech, said that considering the mal- functioning of our public sectors and also keeping in mind corruption prevailing therein,  nationalization of mines is not the ideal solution.

Refering to another suggestion of Mr Yechuri that export of mineral ore should be banned Mr Naik said that the country has not yet developed capabilities to use iron ore locally besides, he said ore extracted in a State like Goa is basically a low grade one, which has no market in the country has, therefore,  necessarily to be exported.

Naik questioned as to how the extracted  iron ore worth thousands of rupees  disappeared from Bellary   and  said that Commission of Inquiry is of no use since the offence of theft is already committed and said that CBI inquiry is the ideal solution to the problem.

He suggested that not only the persons who commited the theft must be arrested but the conspirators , even though he may be the highest executive of the State, must be put behind bars.

Naik referred to the Minieral Policy of Government of India and said that, henceforth tribals will be the stakeholders in the mining operations in the country.

He also pleaded that in order to implement the new Mining Policy, the government has to carry out necessary amendments to the Mining Regulation Act and the Rules.