Goa seeks central intervention to resolve mining hurdles

The Goa state government has requested assistance from the Indian central government to resolve regulatory and clearance issues hindering the resumption of mining operations. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met with Union Minister for Mines G Kishan Reddy to discuss reforms, specifically regarding the extraction of iron ore from approximately 20 auctioned mining dumps containing an estimated 40 million tonnes of ore.

Some of these dumps are currently located in areas classified as forests, though they were not designated as such when the ore was originally deposited. The state has proposed that once the ore is extracted, the land will be handed over to the Forest Department. Sawant emphasized that the government aims to expand mineral production capacity to 45 million tonnes annually, which could generate approximately Rs 4,000 crore in revenue and create up to 5,000 jobs.

Additionally, the state is seeking a scientific review of 153 mining leases located within eco-sensitive areas of the Western Ghats. The goal is to determine if mineral resources can be auctioned without compromising ecologically fragile zones. Sawant stated that while the state seeks to unlock mining potential, it will not tolerate violations of environmental laws or compromise biodiversity and public health.