TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The much-waited iron ore mining lease policy, expected to be out by September 20, is likely to classify all 360-odd mining leases into three categories depending on their status, based on which leases would be executed for resumption of mining activity.
As per the new policy, which would be the modification of existing Goa Mineral Policy 2013, those mines classified in the first category would be given the licences to extract when activity resumes. This category basically includes those mines that are legal with necessary documents and not operational in the forest or wildlife areas.
“More than half of the existing mining leases come under the first category,” a senior mines department official confirmed. Those 27 mining leases, which had paid stamp duty, and whose lease deeds would be executed by government as per High Court directives, are part of this first category.
State has around 360 valid mining leases, while only 90 mines were operational prior to state government temporary suspension order in September 2012. The policy also suggests two more categories, under which the mines can be given leases to permit extraction of iron ore at a later stage, but not immediately.
When contacted, Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya, refusing to divulge details of the policy, said that the state government is examining the order given by High Court before finalising the policy.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology had in 2012 initiated process to classify then operational 90 mines into three categories – Green (those with valid documents), Brown (lacking documents) and Red (illegal). However, the exercise could not kick off due to sudden closure of the mining industry.
The government is currently in the process of formulating the policy as per Supreme Court guidelines. The CM has announced that by September 20 the mining policy would be out while by October 15, al least 27 mining leases would be granted. Government is expecting the industry to resume by January, next year. Meanwhile, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), appointed to recommend the optimal level of fresh mining that can be undertaken in Goa, is expected to submit its report before end of this year.
