Goa government revokes ban, Iron ore mining to begin soon

Panaji: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has revoked a three-year-old ban on mining in Goa, which has paved way for the resumption of iron ore extraction in the state.

In 2012, the then minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Jayanthi Natarajan had suspended the clearances for over 90 mining leases in the state due to the illegal extraction of iron ore in Goa. Irregularities in mining reportedly resulted in a Rs 35,000 crore scam.

According to reports, the Goa government is deciding on a limit for iron ore extraction so that total mining does not exceed the cap of 20 million tonnes, which was set by the Supreme Court for all output in the state.