PANJIM: The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), a premier notified mineral exploration agency under the aegis of Ministry of Mines, Government of India, offering integrated mineral exploration and consultancy services, at New Delhi, on Monday.
With the signing of MoU, the MECL will assess mineral resources by conducting an array of geo-scientific exploration and will finalise the mineral blocks to be auctioned and establish the State’s mineral inventory.
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The signatory to the MoU were MECL Chairman and Managing Director Dr Ranjit Rath and Director of Mines and Geology Vivek H P in the presence of Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Chief Secretary Parimal Rai and Satendra Singh, Joint Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Mines and other senior officials of Government of India and Government of Goa.
Speaking on the occasion, Joshi said, “The MoU between the DMG, Goa and the MECL will strive towards the common objective of expediting the assessment of mineral resources and auction of mineral blocks for subsequent mining, bringing economic development and employment in the region as well as the nation.”
This is on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Mopdi ji’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and our motto of “Sabha Saath Sabka Vikas” as this step will pave way for the State governments to increase and improve exploration and fast track the auction process of mineral blocks.
The recent amendments to the MMDR Amendment Act 2021, Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2021 and Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Amendment Rules will further pave the way for States to fast track the auction process of their mineral acreages, thus making role of DMG, Government of Goa pivotal in the process of assessment and allocation of their mineral acreages.
The State of Goa has been bestowed with large deposits of iron ore (1456 million tonnes) as well as significant occurrence of other major minerals like bauxite (55 million tonnes) and manganese ore (34 million tonnes). Iron ore mining in Goa hugely contributes to the regional income and employment in the State.
