Recommends 45 MMT cap on exports
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Even if Supreme Court lifts the ban on mining operations in Goa, fresh extraction will not be allowed for the time being, and only ore which is extracted and stacked would be allowed to be shipped, says the State Mining Policy 2013, notified on Monday.
The much awaited policy was notified, days after government was rapped for not finalizing the policy by the Apex Court.
The final policy, which highlights almost all the subjects of the draft policy, has recommended capping of ore exports to 45 MMT of which 25 MMT can be tapped from the low grade ore piled as dumps.
At the same time, government has said that it has asked National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to conduct a study to determine and recommend optimal quantum of fresh ore extraction that can be allowed by the State from existing mines. State government said that it will not go ahead with fresh extraction till the NEERI study is complete, except allow shipping of already extracted and staked /stocked ore.
Government has commissioned NEERI to examine the optimum quantum of fresh extraction of iron ore and submit the report within the next three months. “Pending the study, no fresh proposal for environmental clearances and no fresh extraction of ore from existing mines shall take place except movement of already extracted and stacked /stocked ore at the mine head or jetty and of which inventory has already been taken by Director of Mines and Geology,” the policy reads.
“No new prospecting licences or mining leases (approvals) to be granted until a report by experts i.e. NEERI is in place with regards to impact of such leases on the environment,” the policy stated.
The policy has imposed a ban on the export of ore ~ fines or lumps, during the rainy season. The transportation of ore for supply of domestic consumption has been exempted from the ban. The policy also speaks about sustainable mining and various measures to curb and control illegal mining in the State.
Other salient features
No new Diversion of Forest Land for Mining
Directorate of Mines and Geology to identify the dump sites and stock yards and prepare geo-spatial data
Trucks and barges, carrying iron ore to be registered with DMG
All rising contractors to be registered with DMG
Every trader must have minimum area of 5000 sq mts of plot to be entitled for permit
Mining activities of any company to be prohibited if it fails to plant and nurture 10,000 trees every year from June – August
Sustainable mining ~ with ample protection to ecology, health and other sectors
10,000 new jobs to be created in the field of agriculture, horticulture, tourism and animal husbandry.
A committee headed by the minister (Mines) will be constituted to monitor and periodically review the implementation of the State Mining Policy
Pollution checking centres to be installed along the road till the unloading port.
Geological parks would be set up in the State
