PANJIM: In a major relief to mine owners, Forest Minister Rajendra Arlekar has agreed to allow handling of iron ore dumps from forest areas on obtaining necessary clearance from the Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF).
A total of 139 mining dumps are on forest land, of which 95 are in South Goa and 44 in North Goa, and the quantity of ore is almost 40 percent of the total in dumps in the State.
“If the law permits, then there is no problem in allowing handling of dumps from the forest area. We have to see whether the Union Ministry will give permission,” Arlekar said on Friday.
The minister said that wherever required necessary clearance would be sought from the Union Ministry. “Government, including the former forest minister, was in favour of allowing dump handling from forest areas but only if the law permits,” he clarified.
Alina Saldanha who was handling the environment and forest portfolio prior to Arlekar was, however, not in favour of handling of dumps from the forest areas.
Nearly 750 million tonnes of ore are lying on forest, non-forest, government and private land. The six member expert committee appointed by Supreme Court is also in favour of handling the dumps to protect the land from environmental degradation.
As per information in most cases, the dumps are covered with vegetation and acacia and casuarina plantations.
Information from the Forest Department revealed that large mining companies have ore in forest land.
The Goa State Mineral Policy 2013 favouring removal of dumps from forest areas stated that dumps within forest areas, including sanctuaries, are causing problem for wildlife.
It said the State will seek special approval (if required) from MoEF for its removal. “Dumps in forest area would be auctioned at a price in addition to royalty payment and other fees as prescribed as per government’s policy,” the mining policy states.
