Goa's mining policy to be tabled in monsoon session

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is all set to table the state's mining policy on the floor of the House during the four-week moonsoon session of the Legislative Assembly, beginning Thursday.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikaris all set to table the state's mining policy on the floor ofthe House during the four-week moonsoon session of theLegislative Assembly, beginning Thursday.

Parrikar told reporters here that the draft policy wouldbe tabled initially in the session and later kept open forpublic scrutiny.

"After tabling it on the floor of the House, the policywould be kept open for public scrutiny for 30 days," he said.

The policy would then be notified within 4-5 days withnecessary amendments to it.

Mining industry players and environmentalists are eagerlywaiting for the policy to know the future course for thisindustry, which is one the biggest commercial activities inthe state.

The new Goa Minerals (Prevention of Illegal MiningTransportation and Storage) Rules, 2012 will repeal andreplace the 2004 rules.

The policy is expected to spell the state government'sstand on handling of the dumps, which is low grade ore, lyingacross the mining leases and outside it, in the state.

Environmentalists have claimed that the dumps should notbe allowed to be moved, while sources in the state governmenthas said that ore from the dumps would be permitted to beexported, provided exporters pays heavy fine to the stateexchequer.

As per rough estimates there is more than 750 millionmetric tonnes of ore, which is lying in the form of thesedumps, which have accumulated over the years.

A need for low grade ore in the international market hasturned these useless heaps into export quality product.

The policy will also highlight the rehabilitation of thefarmlands ruined due to the mining leases.

Goa exported 43 MMT of ore during the last fiscal, whichwas tapped through its 90-odd mining leases.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com