Goa has 37 mining dumps on govt land: Minister

In a written reply on the floor of the House, state Revenue Minister Francis D'Souza said 37 mining dumps are on government revenue land, of which 27 are in Sattari taluka, seven in Bicholim and the others in rest of the mining belt.

The dumps belong to prominent mining firms from the state like Dempo, Timblo, Fomento, Salgaoncar Mines, Rajaram Bandekar, Sesa Goa, Rajaram Bandekar and others, the reply mentioned.

D'Souza, however, refused to state as to how long the dumps were lying on the land but added that the cases against these companies were pending with different authorities including sub divisional magistrate, since 2006.

In his reply, the minister termed as "encroachment" the dumping of ore on government revenue land.

The mining dumps are usually rejected ore which is not of export quality due to less iron content in it.

Demand for ore in the international market has now made it worth exporting since 2005.

Goa government has put a ban on handling of the dumps. But the state mining policy, which is being drafted, has hinted at allowing the export of dumps.