Team Herald
PANJIM: Almost a year after the State government granted a mining lease to M/s HL Nathurmal to undertake iron ore activities at Harvalem, the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (GSEIA) has issued prior environmental clearance (EC) for mining.
M/s H L Nathurmal on Thursday issued a public notice announcing that they have received prior EC from GSEIA for mining lease area of 85.85 HA and proposed capacity of 73,500 tonnes per year of iron ore and manganese at Oilem Harvalem, Sanquelim.
The EC given by GSEIA on Feb 13, 2020 has been granted up to the period of validation of the mining lease i.e. March 31, 2020.
"I am expecting the validation to go up to 2030," mine owner Harish Melvani said.
The company will now have to get mining plans approved as well as obtain the ‘consent to operate’ nod from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
The State government had decided to grant permission to operate to 18 mining leases that do not come under the ambit of the February 7, 2018, Supreme Court order.
Accordingly, in May 2019, the government had granted lease to M/s HL Nathurmal.
There are around 300 mining leases that do not fall under the Supreme Court order, as the second lease renewals to these mines were granted in 2006.
Mining activities in the State are currently at halt since March 2018.