Indian iron ore mining mess - Mining clearances on hold in Goa

BL reported that the government has imposed a moratorium on granting environmental clearances for mining proposals in Goa till such time the State finalizes its mineral policy.

In a letter to the Mr Digambar Kamat CM of Goa, Mr Jairam Ramesh the environment minister conveyed his decision to put a moratorium on the consideration of mining proposals for Goa till the mineral policy for the State was finalized and the Environment Ministry informed. Mr Ramesh wrote in a letter to Mr Kamat that "I am advising the officer concerned to return all the proposals pending for consideration to the proponents and not to accept any new proposal for the State of Goa."

Mr Digambar Kamat had earlier requested the Environment Minister to put on hold environmental clearances to proposals as the State was in the process of evolving a mineral policy. In the recent past, Goa’s draft mineral policy had come under flak from environmental agencies because it had advocated mining activity near the State’s wildlife sanctuaries, part of the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. Mining is the second largest industry in Goa, after tourism. The industry, which operates on 100-odd mining leases, earns an estimated INR 4,000 crore per year.

Mr Ramesh also felt that the time had come for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment study of all mining activity across the country. The Environment Ministry is planning to rope in the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute to conduct the study to identify remedial measures to reduce the impact of mining on the environment.