Staff Reporter

Panaji

The state cabinet on Friday approved the Dump Handling Policy, 2023 after tweaking it to make only exporters eligible to buy ore from leaseholders unlike in the past when anyone could apply to buy the ore.

The cabinet approval will pave the way for the auctioning of low-grade iron ore lying on various parcels of private land in the state. The government is looking at revenue of `200 crore from the auction of the dumps.

Briefing media on the decisions taken, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that in the first phase, the erstwhile mining leaseholders, who have iron ore dumps on their land, would be allowed to export the ore after adhering to the procedures.

He said the dumps on which convergence fee has already been paid can be exported after paying royalty to the government.

“The state government has contemplated revenue of `200 crore from these dumps. Approximately, 20 million metric tonnes of dump ore is lying in different parts of the state on private land,” Sawant said.

According to the Chief Minister, in the first phase, a total of 10 million metric tonnes of ore could be exported under the policy. He said owners of these dumps will have to pay a premium to the state government. “We have not yet decided on the quantum of premium. But the cabinet has decided that premium will have to be paid,” Sawant said.

The Chief Minister said 12 leaseholders have already applied seeking permission to export the dumps.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also approved a study through Deltares, a Dutch Knowledge Institute, for assessing feasibility and implementation of the beach nourishment and sand motor technology in order to address the issue of coastal erosion.

The Netherlands-based independent knowledge institute works on innovative solutions in the field of water and subsurface.

The Chief Minister said that the Dutch agency has been appointed on nomination basis and it is expected to complete the study within a period of one year.