Royalty-paid ore: transportation permits from today

Panaji: The state government has begun the process of granting permission to mining firms for the transportation of royalty-paid iron ore.

This move will help resume mining activity, which has been halted in the state since March 2018 following a Supreme Court order, which quashed the renewal of 88 mining leases. The move will also provide relief to the mining-dependent people in the state.

Following an apex court order, allowing transportation of royalty-paid iron ore, seven firms had applied for clearance from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and permission from the directorate of mines and geology.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday informed this daily that the GSPCB has already given its clearance for transportation of the royalty-paid iron ore.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with officials of the mines department on Tuesday. “I have already held a meeting with the directorate of mines and geology and directed them to issue permits to firms, which have been already granted clearance by the GSPCB,” he said.

Sawant said that the mines department will start issuing permits for transportation of the iron ore from March 5. He further said that the process was delayed due to some technical issue.