PANJIM: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) constituted Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) to examine issues surrounding suspension of environmental clearances (ECs) of Goa iron ore mines will meet on October 27 and 28 in New Delhi.
The eleven-member EAC that met last on August 14 had proposed that the Union Ministry seek a list of valid mining leases that could be considered for granting ECs. Then Minister for MoEF Jayanti Natrajan suspended 93 mining leases, following State government’s order to temporarily suspend mining activities.
A senior official confirmed that government has already submitted to the Ministry a list of such mines, which, according to them, are only involved in minor violation.
“The proposal has to be cleared by EAC, which will be meeting at the end of this month,” the official said. Last week Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that a total 15 to 20 mines would be initially considered by his government to sign lease deeds in the first phase as they are allegedly involved in minor violations.
In a joint meeting of four mining States – Goa , Jharkhand, Karnataka and Odisha – called recently, the MoEF stressed on the need to expedite resumption of mining in Goa and directed the government to submit a list of valid mining leases in the State for grant of ECs at the earliest.
Also the committee to study the carrying capacity of the state is supposed to arrive by October 10-12. According to the government, there are only 90 mining leases (operational prior to suspension in 2012) that could be considered for renewal.
