Monitoring panel on e-auction to arrive on Jan 28
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board has given green signal for handling or disposal of stocked iron ore after e-auction process is over. In the initial stage, Consent would be granted for handling one million tons of ore that would be auctioned in the first week of February.
Following Supreme Court directions to suspend mining operations in the State, GSPCB in December 2012 had refused to renew operating consent to 10 mining leases under Air and Water Pollution Act, which had expired on July 31, 2012.
At its 111th Board meeting Friday, GSPCB agreed to grant Consent to Operate under Air and Water Pollution Act to the auctioneer for the disposal of the ore after e-auction.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, GSPCB Chairman Jose Manual Noronha said that the Directorate of Mines and Geology had informed the Board that permissions have to be obtained by auctioneer for disposal of stocked ore after e-auctioning. “Hence, the Board has decided to consider the applications of the auctioneer and grant consent for the disposal of the ore,” he said. As per Mines department, 15 million metric tons of ore would be e-auctioned in phases.
Noronha said that the consent would be granted only for disposal of stocked ore as after e-auction takes place.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court appointed three-member monitoring committee on e-auction headed by Dr U V Singh is expected to arrive in Goa on January 28 to take stock of the process. Mines department has already invited applications from the bidders for participating in the e-auction.
Mining operations in Goa were suspended since September 2012, as the State government temporarily suspended mining operations, based on findings of Shah Commission report on illegal mining followed by the Supreme Court ban.
The Board has decided to consider the applications of the auctioneer and grant consent for the disposal of the ore. The consent would be granted only for disposal of stocked ore as after e-auction takes place
