Panaji (Goa)  Draft National Mineral Policy 2018 has proposed ‘in-violate areas’ or ‘no-go areas’ thereby banning of mining operations in identified ecologically fragile and biologically rich areas.

The draft policy is been kept open for public suggestions till February 9.

The policy has admitted the very fact that extraction of minerals impacts other natural resources like land, water air and forest. The policy proposes banning of mining operations in identified ecologically fragile and biologically rich areas.

“State government will identify areas that are critically fragile in terms of ecology and declare as ‘in-violate areas’ or ‘no-go areas’ out of bounds for mining,” the policy stated.

The policy also speaks about welfare of mining affected people, wherein it has proposed that the mining companies will ensure that suitable, approrpiatye , relief and rehabilitation packages are granted to those whose lands are acquired for mining purpose and those affected with project. The company has to also ensure such population a sustainable income.

Mine closure, mine safety, mineral security, foreign trade, deep sea and beach sand minerals are also some of major focus of the policy.