Panaji: The state government has framed a set of rules for six departments responsible for monitoring mining in the state. The departments are also directed to ensure that the rules are enforced strictly when mining activities resume in the state.
Referring to the recent decision of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF) to withdraw environmental clearances (ECs) of Goa mining, the department of environment has moved a note to the Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB), forest department, both collectors, mines department and revenue department to effectively monitor and strictly comply with the rules when mining resumes in the state.
As per government directions, the mines department and GSPCB have to strictly monitor the 20 million tonne capping of iron ore extraction enforced by the apex court.
Director of the environment department Srinet Kothwale said that the mines and forest departments as well as the GSPCB should ensure that no mining is allowed in forest land for which forest clearance is not available. The mines department and GSPCB shall ensure that mining of dumps is not permitted unless it is approved of in the mine plan and environment clearance letter.
Dumping of material outside the mine leased area should not be permitted by the mines department and GSPCB, unless mentioned in an approved mine plan and EC, the note said.
If any violation is observed in the future, the ECs will be cancelled and the mines department and GSPCB should bring this condition to the notice of the lease holder.
GSPCB and mines department should make sure that the project proponent will file six monthly compliance reports to the regional office of the MoEF and GSPCB.
On March 20, 2015, the MoEF had revoked the EC of 72 mining leases with conditions, which were kept in abeyance in September 2012, following the Shah Commission report on illegal mining.
While revoking the EC which were kept in abeyance, MoEF had said that the state government should not allow mining of dumps unless mentioned in approved mine plan and EC letter.
MoEF also had said that violations will be dealt as per the existing law and lifting of abeyance of the EC will not in any manner affect that. "If any violation is observed in the future, the EC will be cancelled as per rules," MoEF had stated.
Of the 72 mining leases, 35 had been granted EC under the provision of EIA notification 1994 and 37 leases had been granted EC under EIA notification 2006. The state government has renewed 89 mining leases in the state.
