PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Friday approved the new Dump Handling Policy 2023, for regulating iron ore dump handling in the State.
The Dump Handling Policy allows handling of low grade iron ore lying inside and outside mining leases generated between Nov 23, 2007 and Sept 11, 2022.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology had identified more than 300 such locations across the State. Under the policy, priority will be accorded to dumps that pollute the surrounding ecosystems, in forest areas and in other ecological sensitive non-lease areas.
Before finalising the policy, the government had started the process to conduct a drone LIDAR survey of the mining dumps for volumetric estimation.
The Supreme Court in December last year had allowed the Goa government to carry out mine dumping activities with regards to low-grade iron ore dumps lying across the State by strictly adhering to the expert committee recommendations.
As per the Directorate of Mines and Geology estimate, around 20 million tonnes of iron ore was lying in the form of dumps and can be extracted for over a period of five years.
In December 2021, the State government had granted approval to a new policy for handling mining dumps outside and inside leases through e-auctioning.
The Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Office Memorandum of the government in order to revive lapsed posts of all the government departments, whose assessment of staff strength has been completed by the high-level empowered committee and referred to the Department of Personnel and then to the Finance Department for concurrence. In case of other departments where posts have lapsed and assessment is not completed, will be referred to the Administrative Reforms Department (ARD) for review of manpower assessment.
All the posts which remain vacant for seven years and above will be deemed to be abolished. The cabinet further stated that all the live posts referred to the Goa Staff Selection Commission for direct recruitment will not get lapsed.
It also gave its nod to transfer 10,000 sq mts of land from the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) to the Department of Tourism, for construction of Unity Mall at Murda-Merces in Tiswadi taluka.
The Unity Mall is being incentivised by the Government of India, which has also set guidelines for the proposed Mall, which will consist of commercial spaces showcasing rich traditions and amenities of the State besides recreational and cultural activities. The Government of India will provide funds of Rs 100 cr for the proposed Unity Mall.
The Cabinet granted approval for the proposal of the Goa Medical College (GMC) Dean to release Rs 68.38 crore to M/s Wellness Forever Medical Pvt Ltd, towards the supply of drugs and medicines.
