By our Special Correspondent

Panaji (Goa) 

In a major setback to the State government, the Bombay High Court at Goa today ordered stoppage of iron ore transportation, which was allowed by Mines department on the ground that it was extracted before March 15 and the royalty for the same was paid by the lease holders.

The ban on transportation of ore came into effect from 7.00pm on March 15 along with other mining operations. However, mines department had allowed transportation of ore lying outside the lease bound area and for which royalty was paid.

The NGO Goa Foundation had moved High court challenging the illegal transportation. High Court as an interim relief ordered stoppage of transportation of ore extracted till March 15.

Court has also asked the State to file an affidavit in the matter.

Advocate General Dattaprasad Lawande in his opinion to the Government had said that the mineral which are already extracted prior to March 15 on which royalty is already paid and taken out from the lease area, would legitimately belong to the leaseholder and therefore, on that score the effect of stoppage will not come into play.