Says Goa still has resource balance of 1,150 million tons
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Even though Justice M B Shah Commission and the environmentalists in the State have raised concern about limited iron ore resource, the Union Mines Ministry, putting to rest all such worries, has clarified that ‘mineral resources are likely to be augmented further in Goa for preserving the asset for future generation’. The iron ore rich state still has a resource balance of about 1,150 million tons.
Ascertaining that the ore resource would be augmented, the Ministry has refused to put any cap on production of minerals solely on the basis of reserves and resources claiming that the capping would not be in the interest of growth of mining industry.
Union Mines Ministry has drafted 25-pages updated action taken report (ATR) on Shah Commission’ inquiry reports (I, II and III) taking into account the comments received from the Ministry of Coal, Department of Commerce, Department of Legal Affairs, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Steel and Goa government.
Ministry has pointed out that earlier, exploration was upto 50-60 mtrs depth, whereas, the Goan ore, primarily vein type, is deep seated. “Therefore with advances in technological intervention in exploration, which is an ongoing process, iron ore resource is likely to be augmented further,” ATR reads. It has said that the reserve of Hematite iron ore in Goa in 1971 was 396 million tons. As on April 1, 2010, after excavating about 500 million tons in last 29 years, Goa still has resource balance of about 1,150 million tons.
“Hence fixing a cap on production solely on the basis of reserves and resources proved as at the present will not be in the interest of the growth of the industry,” Ministry said.
Shah Commission in its inquiry report had recommended that ‘for preserving non-renewable assets for future generation, there is a need to bring down the production to safe guard environment, ecosystem, biodiversity and wildlife of the state’. Commission has suggested cap of 12.5 million tons per annum. Goa government has already proposed gross capping of 45 million tons per annum (25 million tons fresh extraction and 20 million tons from dumps).
Supreme Court that has suspended all mining activities in Goa, has appointed six-member capping committee to conduct micro-level environment impact study and suggest annual ore production for the state.
