PANAJI (CU)_The Union government of India in November, announced amendments to the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Mineral) Concession Rules, which allows the export of waste rock and mineral below the threshold value, which was generated during the course of mining. The amendments came into force in mid-November, and last week the Goa cabinet approved the export of iron ore dumps which have been lying around on government and private land so that the coastal state may resume mining activity for the next four to five years.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Chief Minister of the state, Pramod Sawant, said 10 to 20 million metric tonnes of low-grade iron ore can be found at different locations outside the mining leases, which can now be exported. “Goa has enough ore to sustain the mining activity for the next four to five years. This ore is lying across the state at different places,” the minister said.
He further noted that under the State Land Revenue Code had empowered, the Government of Goa is empowered to impose fines on those who dump mining rejects or similar material without the permission. “We have collected fines to the tune of ₹2 billion (US$26.78 million) in 2013-14 from people who had dumped the ore outside the mining leases. Those who have paid the fines will be allowed to move the dumps after taking permission from the Indian Bureau of Mines and paying royalty payment as per the policy,” he said. Now these overburdened waste rock generated during the course of mining can be exported under the recent Minerals Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2021, which came into force from 12 November, 2021, the minister added, as the state government’s policy looks to regulate mining dumps on government and private lands.
