With the inauguration of mining operations of Vedanta, mining and iron ore exporters by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar at their mines on Monday, Goa is all set to resume its private sector iron ore mining operations which had all come to agrinding halt for nearly three years.
The mining of iron ore and exports were banned by the Supreme Court by an order dated October 5, 2014 following a public interest litigation complaining about massive illegalities and irregularities in the mining operations in the State as brought out by the Justice(retd) M. B. Shah Commission of Inquiry. While the Court subsequently partially lifted its ban in May 2014 by allowing mining activities with a cap on annual extraction and directing State and the Centre to strictly regulate the activity, the resumption of mining continued to be delayed owing to legal issues.
Vedanta, former Seza Goa is the largest iron ore exporter from Goa which exported nearly 50 million tonnes of ore per annum prior to ban.
Goa government has already renewed around 87 mining leases of which 61 have obtained consent from State Pollution Control Board for Air and Water prevention of pollution.
