PANJIM: The State government has taken the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) on board to study the profile of iron ore dumps in mining areas, informed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the Legislative Assembly on Saturday.
Although dump ore is estimated at 700 million ton as of now, it will actually be much more and profiling will help find the exact figure, he added. The IBM and GSI will help the State government generate the data on the dumps in the State including quantity, quality, grade etc.
Replying to a starred question tabled by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas regarding the new policy for regulating Iron Ore Dump Handling, 2023, Sawant said, “Meetings were held with GSI and IBM in regards to handling of such dumps. The State is in the process of dump profile study, pursuant to which necessary decision will be taken regarding auction of mining dumps,” the written reply in the house stated. The reply also stated that 27 parties have applied for removal and mining of dumps in Goa.
Sawant said that 27 companies have applied for removal of mining dumps. But so far no dump handling is allowed in the State. But after receiving the study report, the government will auction dump ore within a month.
However, Viegas demanded names of experts who formulated the iron ore Dump Handling policy without ascertaining the quantity and quality of dump ore. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai too demanded to know why the policy was drafted without knowing the quantity and quality of dump.
The Chief Minister said that once dumps are removed , the land would be reused for various purposes.
