PANAJI | Nov 29, 2016: With many leases lying non-operational, the state government, which is looking to touch the extraction cap of 20 million tonne to increase revenue, is exploring possibilities of permitting operational mines in the state to extract iron ore beyond the presently permitted quota.
Directorate of mines and geology (DMG), recently, held a meeting with representatives of various mining companies to discuss redistribution of ore extraction limit.
In April 2014, the Supreme Court, in a judgement, set a 20 million tonne per year cap on iron ore extraction in the state. "We cannot raise the iron ore extraction cap and the state government wants to exhaust 20 million tonnes to ensure that maximum revenue is generated. DMG is in discussion with mining companies to allot the iron ore quota of mining leases not in operation to those that are in operation," a senior officer said.
Earlier, the mines department had distributed 20 million tonnes of iron ore among 88 mining companies on pro-rata basis.
The state government has renewed 88 mining leases of which 42 mining leases are in operation.
In the current mining season, till date (November 28), around 3.44 million tonnes of iron ore has been exported. During 2015-2016, 7.3 million tonnes of iron ore were exported.
Sources in government told TOI that till the state does not touch the extraction limit, the government cannot approach the Supreme Court to ask for increase in the ore extraction cap. An expert committee appointed by the apex court had recommended that the cap could be increased to 37 million tonne, depending on the infrastructure available.
The state government is eyeing the mining revenue to repay its loans and to carry out more developmental works.
Of the 88 mining leases renewed by the state government, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) granted 66 mining companies the consent to operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, with an iron ore extraction limit of approximately 16 million tonne.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)