Panaji: The state government has provided documents of 77 mining leases to the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) for identifying the quantity of iron ore lying in these mines before they are auctioned.
The MECL will check the documents of the leases which are spread across the state. “Once it verifies the records, its officials will shortlist the mining leases and visit the sites next month for exploration and identifying the quantity of iron ore available at each lease,” a senior officer said.
The senior officer said that the MECL will check who is holding the surface rights of the leases — whether it is the government or a private party. It will also check mining plans.
The state government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the MECL in July to identify new iron ore mines in the state.
Keeping in mind the delay in resumption of mining activities in the state, chief minister Pramod Sawant had decided to form a mining corporation and identify new mineral blocks to restart the industry.
The senior officer had said that once the MECL finalises the blocks to be auctioned, the leases will be transferred to the mining corporation and thereafter it will be auctioned.
Mining in Goa came to a halt in March 2018 following the decision of the Supreme Court to quash the second renewal of 88 mining leases.
During the Portuguese era, Goa had 806 mining concessions; and in 1987, after the concessions were abolished and converted into leases, the number...
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