A total of 154 iron ore mining leases in Goa fall within areas identified as Eco-Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats, as per the Union Ministry of Environment’s August 2024 draft notification. These leases span 108 villages, and under current rules, no mining or e-auction activities are permitted in such designated areas. In response, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has paused auctions of these leases pending the final ESA notification. The Goa government has proposed that 21 villages—mostly from Sattari and Dharbandora talukas—be excluded from the ESA list, potentially reopening future mining prospects in those areas if accepted.
Since 2023, Goa has successfully e-auctioned 12 mineral blocks outside the ESA zones, with companies like JSW, Kai International, Vedanta, and others emerging as major winners. Of these, seven blocks have secured environmental clearance and three have started operations. The DMG is also awaiting the Geological Survey of India’s assessment of nine additional iron ore leases, with e-auctions tentatively planned for July 2025. Meanwhile, the draft ESA policy proposes a strict ban on new mining and other high-impact industrial activities within ESAs, with existing mines required to shut down within five years of the final notification or upon lease expiry.