TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: In a bid to identify the legality of the iron ore dumps stacked across Goa, the State government has decided to carry out special inspection of each and every dump/stockyard to assess the scientific holding of the site, the quality and quantity of the dumps along with linking the same with the approved mineral extraction limit imposed in the mining plan and the environmental clearances. Source of iron ore dump would be also identified through the exercise.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology also said that the dump handling would be allowed provided the lease holder submits clearance from the Goa State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority, Consent under the Air and Water Acts from Goa State Pollution Control Board and conversion Sanad from the Collector or his representative.
The Government on Thursday notified the Goa (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage, and Transportation of Minerals) Rules, 2013 providing a jail term of up to one year and fine of up to Rs 5,000 for illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals in violation of law. Chapter IV speaks about the rules for storage of minerals.
The mines directorate has been directed to prepare a geo referenced and geo fenced identification database of the location of all dumps/stockyards in the State giving exact latitude and longitude, and other details identifying the location of the dumps. As per the DMG estimate, 750 million metric tones of ore in form of dumps is lying across the State.
“DMG may through an expert agency as may be notified carry out a detailed inspection of each and every dump or stockyard in the State and assess the scientific holding capacity of the site, the quantity and quality of material stored, quantity of dump containing ore and break-up in terms of ferrous content, verify the source of dump or stock, link them with the approved extraction limit imposed by the State/Mining Plan/ EC on the lease/leases being claimed as source and assess the deviations from the legally explained limit, if any,” the notification issued by Mines Director Prasanna Acharya reads.
Government has clarified that no person other than the lease holder or end user (contractor) would be allowed to stock dumps. “The dump movement shall be allowed only after assessing the carrying capacity of the road and payment of all dues to the Government,” it added. Government in its mining policy has allowed export of dumps upto 20 MMT per annum.
The environmentalists in the State have been crying foul over dumps.
