High court order on green nods will delay restart of mining operations: Chief minister Sawant

Panaji: CM Pramod Sawant on Friday said that the decision of the HC of Bombay at Goa on environment clearances (ECs) will delay the resumption of mining activities in the state. However, the state government will put the process on fast track so that mining activities resume this year, he told TOI.
The mining season commences after monsoon ends.
“We will coordinate with the Union environment ministry to expedite the process of granting ECs to mining blocks,” the chief minister said.
The high court on Wednesday ruled that successful bidders of e-auctioned mining blocks in respect of which environment clearances (ECs) were cancelled by the Union government in April 2018 will have to obtain fresh ECs.
To obtain EC, mining companies have to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and submit it to the Union environment ministry. The same is made available to the public. Later, the Goa State Pollution Control Board will conduct a public hearing and the report will be submitted to the environment ministry for decision making. In case a mining lease is above 250 hectares, the process will be carried out by the environment ministry, whereas for leases below 250 hectares, the process will be completed by the state environment impact assessment authority.
The state government had said that it could extend the ECs given to mining lease holders as they were issued under the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Notification, 2006, by which an EC is valid for 30 years.
So far eight iron ore blocks have been auctioned by the state government in two different auctions. Another block will be auctioned on Friday. The state government has put nine blocks for auction, of which eight are in North and one in South Goa. Mining activities came to halt in March 2018 following the decision of the Supreme Court after it quashed the second renewal of 88 mining leases.
The state government has identified seven mineral blocks in South Goa to auction in the third round, which is likely to be held next month. South Goa’s mining leases will be put up for auction to boost the economy in the mining belts of Curchorem, Sanvordem, Sanguem and Quepem.