SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: As the Goa Mineral Policy 2013 made it clear that there would be no more diversion of forest land for iron ore mining activities, the Forest Department has decided to stick to the policy decision. The decision will spell doom for four renewed mining leases, wanting forest clearance for operating in 275.96 hectares of forest area.
The four renewed mining leases belonging to Geetabala Parulekar, Hiralal Khodidas, Rajaram Bandekar and Zoiram Neugi are allowed fresh extraction up to 1.57 million tons on a pro-rata basis by Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG). However, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has kept the environment clearance of these leases under abeyance, for want of forest clearance from the chief wildlife warden for being located on forest land.
“These leases have forest land in their lease area and the forest clearance is not available. The leases would be considered for lifting of abeyance after the forest clearance is obtained,” MoEF has said in its circular issued on March 20.
There are total 22 such cases. However, only four are renewed by DMG under Section 8 (3) of the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation Act 1957. While the mine owned by Zoiram Neugi on TC No- 59/51 has forest area in the lease area, the other three leases are entirely on forest land. The leases were operational (until September 2012) as per environment impact assessment (EIA) notifications of 1996 and 2006.
“Forest Minister Alina Saldnaha is very much clear that no more forest land would be diverted for the mining activities. Hence the question of granting forest clearances to these leases does not arise,” a senior official said.
Officials said forest clearances are granted if the lease are applied for with conditions like payment of net present value (NPV) and compensatory afforestation (CA). However, these leases never applied for forest clearance and were operational without any payment of NPV and CA in the past several years.
“The matter continues to be in dispute, with leases claiming right over the forest land,” official added.
BOX-
Name of the company with TC No Total hectares in forest land Fresh extraction
in million tons
Geetabala Parulekar- 55/51 87.55 0.924
Hiralal Khodidas- 6/49 70.187 0.185
Rajaram Bandekar 4/49 96 0.323
Zoiram Neugi 59/51 22.23 0.139
