Team Herald
PANJIM: In yet another attempt to restart iron ore operations in the State, the Goa government on Monday filed an application for dump mining before the Supreme Court, pleading that they should be allowed to handle the saleable rejects. The matter is likely to come up for hearing on January 21.
The State government has also appealed to the Apex Court to consider its appointed Expert Committee’s recommendation allowing handling of dumps.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Monday tweeted stating, “An application for dump mining has been filed before the Supreme Court. We are hopeful of positive outcome in reviving the industry.”
The Supreme Court through its judgment dated April 21, 2014 had constituted a six-member Expert Committee on how mining dumps in Goa should be dealt with. Though the committee submitted its report in early 2015, allowing handling of dumps, it is yet to be considered by the Court.
When contacted, Advocate General Devidas Pangam said, “In Goa, there are a large quantity of mining dumps, lying within leases and outside lease bound areas. State government is the owner of the resources. After study, we have come to know that these dumps are saleable. So we are seeking permission.”
The Goa State Mining Policy 2013 had proposed the export of 25m tonnes of dumped ore annually, apart from fresh extraction of ore, claiming that dumps result in environmental degradation.
To regulate the dumps of iron ore rejects and to ban creation of additional dumps in the State and encroachments for dumps, the government in September 2013 had notified a land use policy by making necessary amendment to the Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2013.
