PANJIM: As the extension to transport royalty-paid ore, granted by the Supreme Court ended on January 31, Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has asked lease holders to suspend iron ore transportation activities with immediate effect.
“The lease holders are directed immediately to stop the transportation from the mining leases from February 1, in the State in order to comply with directions of the Supreme Court,” Mines Director HP Vivek said in an order.
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He added that the department will take stock of the material left at the mining leases. As per the Supreme Court order, the balance material now stands confiscated by DMG.
According to the government, nearly four million tonnes of ore were lying at the mining sites, for transportation, till October 2020.
On January 30, 2020, the Supreme Court had permitted lease holders to transport royalty-paid iron ore, mined prior to March 15, 2018 within six months that is by July 30. However, with imposition of lockdown from mid-March, 2020 the firms were unable to transport the ore.
Some mining firms had then sought extension of time on grounds that there was delay on the part of the statutory authorities in issuing transit permits for the transportation of ore and the imposition of lockdown. The Apex Court in October granted further time till January 31, to transport the permitted ore.
The top court, however, made it clear that if the firms could not remove the minerals by January 31, then the government shall invoke their power under Rule 12(1)(hh) of the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016 and confiscate the mined ore.
