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Goa govt told to be tough with mines

Last Updated 28 October 2011, 18:57 IST

According to official records, 44 mines in Goa had been identified for excess iron ore extraction by the Indian Bureau of Mines. The state government took action against 19 of these.

In a letter to Goa’s department of mines and geology dated October 25, the ministry has directed that an environment impact assessment to be carried out by the Goa Pollution Control Board in the areas where mining had taken place in excess of over 20 per cent of permitted limits.

It also asked the Goa government to prepare a list of mining leases that have applied for renewal of environment clearances but continued to operate with “deemed extension”.

Over 10.89 million tonnes of sub-grade iron ore had been lifted from dumps in Goa, the ministry said, warning that illegally extracted ore “may be passed off as dumps” if the state government failed to regulate the movement of iron ore lying in dumps.

The Goa mines department claims that 750 million tonnes of low grade iron ore had piled up in dumps across Goa as a consequence of 40 years of mining in this state. No environment clearance is needed to lift ore , the Goa government told.

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(Published 28 October 2011, 18:57 IST)

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