A year into ban, Goa has 7-8 mt of iron ore lying idle

Goa, one of the major producers of the commodity, exported low grade iron ore to countries like China before the ban was imposed last Sept

About 7-8 million tonnes of iron ore are lying idle in Goa which can be exported if the Supreme Court ban in mining and transportation of ores is lifted, the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association said.

"I think 7-8 million tonnes of iron ore are lying idle in jetties, the Marmugao port and pit-head after the mining was banned in the state," Goa Mineral Ore Exporters' Association secretary Glenn Kalavampara told PTI today.

He also said the association hopes that the apex court will soon decide on the matter.

Goa, one of the major producers of the commodity, used to export low grade iron ore to countries like China before the ban was imposed last September.

"As the ban was imposed just after the monsoon last year, stocks, which were kept for exports, left idle," Kalavampara said.

He also said exports of the commodity from the state could earn foreign exchange, which would help financing of current account deficit.

Interestingly, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said yesterday that the government was keen to revive iron ore mining and that the Mines Ministry would soon move the Supreme Court seeking relaxation in the ban in ore mining.

"I think the orders are already being relaxed in case of Karnataka mines. I think some orders are expected in the case of the Goa mines, too. The idea is to get iron ore mining back on its feet," Chidambaram had said.

Kalavampara said that it is a positive statement and hoped that the issue would get a favourable hearing in the apex court.

"It is a positive statement. I can't say anything more as the issue is in court. But, we hope that mining will start in the state as situation on ground is pretty bad," he said.