PANJIM: The Goa government on Wednesday formulated a policy for regularisation of iron ore dumps, which are lying outside mining leases.
Giving details of the Policy for Regulating Mining Dumps on Government and Private Lands and Related Issues’, post Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the policy is in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines and it would regularise mining dumps lying on the government and the private lands.
According to Sawant, around 10 to 20 million ton ore below threshold ore presently dumped at various places outside mining mines will be permitted to be exported by the lessees, who had already paid fines while the government will confiscate and auction or dump of those who had not paid the fines as per the amended Land Revenue Code in 2013. In 2013-2014 the government collected fines to the tune of approximately Rs 200 crore. Also overburdened ore, waste rock or below the threshold value generated during the course of mining or beneficiation of the minerals could be exported, he said adding that for exporting the dumps only permission from the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) will suffice and additional Environmental Clearances (ECs) will not be required.
According to Sawant, export of iron ore dumps will be permitted as per the recent notified the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Mineral) Concession (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2021, to further amend the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Mineral) Concession Rules, 2016, which came in force from November 2 this year.
The State cabinet also finalised the rate for e-auctioning of the iron ore lying at various jetties. The next e-auctioning will take place within a fortnight,” he said claiming that ore lying at various mining places and jetties can sustain full-fledged mining activity in the State for the next four to five years,
The CM said the process related to auctioning of mining blocks is on.
