Ores dumped can't be touched till SC orders: Goa mines dept

Goa Mines and Geology department has told the mine owners that the iron ore rejects dumped across the state in the leases and outside it cannot be put to use pending order of the Supreme Court.

Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya, in a public notice issued last week, said the six-member committee constituted by the apex court is yet to decide on how to deal with the minerals lying as dumps.

"As such the dump material cannot be touched till such issue is finally decided by the Supreme Court," Acharya said.

He said the notice was issued after the department came across complaints pertaining to people who fraudulently claim to be owners of the ore dumps and collect money on assurance of sale of such ore to mining firms or exporters.

He clarified that the ownership of dumps always vests with the government.

"Such ownership of minerals can only be transferred to lessee upon payment of royalty and other dues payable to the government for legally extracted minerals and ownership of minerals extracted otherwise than legal means always vests with the state," according to the notice.