Panaji (Goa) Initiating process towards implementation of Supreme Court order, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has directed the lease holders of working mines to stop ore extraction activities from March 13.  

DMG has also asked the lease holders to clear the site with all kind of immovable machineries by March 15 afternoons and has halted transportation activities after 6.00pm from March 14.

Supreme Court via an order dated February 7 has quashed second renewal of 88 iron ore mining leases in Goa, while directing them to stop operation after March 15.

DMG has constituted four teams for inspections of working and non working leases, who were granted second renewal of mining. It has also constituted team of technical staff comprising of Officers of Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Directorate of Mines Safety, Forest Department, MOEFCC, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to inspect the status of mining leases from 1.00pm onwards on March 15.

The inspection teams have to cover all the non-working mines from March 7– Wednesday onwards. In case of working mines, lease holders are directed to stop extraction of ore from March 13.

“However the inspecting teams should bring to the notice of Officers and Officials of such working leases about stoppage of extraction of ore by 6.00pm of
March 13. The transportation from stockyards, jetty or processing plants beyond March 14 of royalty paid ore may continue,” DMG said.

 “Movement of e-auctioned cargo from working leases is stopped from Wednesday– March 7 at least till March 16, which shall be allowed to be transported after necessary safeguards in place,” Director said.