Staff Reporter
Panaji
Stating that Goa’s production of iron ore will see a major increase in six months’ time with the auctioned mining blocks commencing full-fledged operations, Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy on Thursday assured full support to the state in carrying out mining activities.
The Union minister said Goa government has restarted mining after complying with all the Supreme Court norms. “The state took into account environment, employment and revenue generation issues for starting mining activities,” he said.
Reddy was speaking on the sidelines of a review meeting of the state’s mining sector. The meet was chaired by Reddy and attended among others by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Sawant said that nine mineral blocks of the total 12 auctioned in the state will start operations shortly, while three blocks are yet to get the environmental clearance (EC) from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
“The ministry has promised to expedite EC for the three blocks. Restart of mining will be substantial this year and the Centre will resolve all issues that come in the way of executing the mineral blocks,” said Sawant.
The review meet looked into the progress of each auctioned mineral block in the state. It deliberated on the auction plan for potential mining blocks, the revival of non-operational mines as well as the status of expired and lapsed leases in the state. The meeting also assessed the ongoing exploration projects conducted by various agencies.
As an event of the Mines Ministry, a road show of the fifth tranche of auction of critical mineral blocks was held along with launch of the nation’s first-ever exploration licence (EL) auction.
Altogether 13 mineral blocks having rare earth elements (REE) including zinc, diamond, copper and platinum are a part of the fifth auction of critical minerals.
Until now, 24 critical mineral blocks have been auctioned in the country in the four previous auctions.
The Mines Ministry has opened the doors to private mineral companies and global investors to undertake high quality reconnaissance of minerals through the auction of exploration licence. To incentivise the private sector in exploration, the ministry is offering 50% reimbursement of the cost incurred in exploration, with a 50-year revenue earning period from the mineral block.
Till date, 35 notified private exploration agencies (NPEA) have been granted licence to undertake exploration of minerals.
Representatives of mining companies and senior government officials were present in full strength at the event attended by Secretary, Mines, V L Kantha Rao, Chief Secretary of Goa, Dr V Candavelou and Joint Secretary, Mines Dinesh Mahur.
