The Goa government has passed the Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill, 2021 to set up a state-run corporation “to carry out mining operations in an orderly, scientific and ecological sustainable manner” in a bid to restart the industry that has been halted since 2018 when the Supreme Court cancelled the renewals of 88 mining leases. The Corporation will be headed by the chief minister as the the ex-officio chairperson and will have on its board the secretaries of mines, finance, environment as its official members.
According to the Bill, the Corporation will be empowered to obtain mining leases/grants, prospecting licenses, etc. under the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 1957, and carry out all mining operations.
