PANJIM: The Centre has hauled up the Goa government for failing to provide feedback on the draft National Iron Ore Dump Mining Policy, which was circulated to all states in 2013. The draft policy addresses issues such as removal of iron ore in excess of the quantity approved in the Mining Plan and effective monitoring mechanism.
Ministries Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee on mineral development and Regulation has now asked states to submit their comments by March 13, when the quarterly meeting of CEC is scheduled. CEC has observed that Goa along with states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat and Orissa are yet to give their comments on the crucial document.
The Union Mines Ministry had in 2013, drafted a dump mining policy and this was circulated to all state governments for comments. The states were also told not take any step at the state-level with regards to dump mining unless the Central policy is finalized.
The Goa government in 2013, despite Central directions, formulated its own dump policy, allowing dump handing outside the mining lease area, provided the land can been converted to agricultural use and removal of dumps are in the interest of the environment.
The leaseholder has to obtain necessary clearance from the Goa State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority, consent under Air and Water Act from Goa State Pollution Control Board and permission from the Department of Mines and Geology.
In case of dumps on forest land, government has said that necessary permissions from MoEF would be taken before handling it. It has also drafted Land Use Policy, to regulate dumps of ore stacked outside lease areas and to ban creation of additional dumps in the State and encroachments for dumps.
