PANJIM: In what could further spell doom to the sulking iron ore mining industry in Goa, the Mapusa based NGO-Goa Foundation has approached Supreme Court pleading for reduction in annual ore production cap from existing 20 million tonnes to 12 million tonnes.
Goa Foundation was the petitioner in the matter wherein apex court had banned mining in Goa in October 2012 followed by fixing annual ore production cap at 20 million tonnes.
The Foundation this month filed an intervention petition pleading that the annual production cap may be reduced to 12 million tonnes.
The move comes at a time when Goa government has managed to convince the Court to consider rise in yearly production limit for the state as proposed by the Expert Committee. The matter is suppose to come up for hearing on October 26.
The expert committee in its final report has recommended enhancing the fresh ore production cap to 30 million tonnes and further 38 million tonnes on augmentation of required infrastructure by the State government.
The cap of 20 million tonnes has hit the industry very hard with mining players reluctant to commence business. The falling international market prices has worsen the situation.
The mining season is yet to commence in the State.
