Goa's mining policy to be tabled in monsoon session

Parrikar told reporters here that the draft policy would be tabled initially in the session and later kept open for public scrutiny.

"After tabling it on the floor of the House, the policy would be kept open for public scrutiny for 30 days," he said.

The policy would then be notified within 4-5 days with necessary amendments to it.

Mining industry players and environmentalists are eagerly waiting for the policy to know the future course for this industry, which is one the biggest commercial activities in the state.

The new Goa Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2012 will repeal and replace the 2004 rules.

The policy is expected to spell the state government's stand on handling of the dumps, which is low grade ore, lying across the mining leases and outside it, in the state.

Environmentalists have claimed that the dumps should not be allowed to be moved, while sources in the state government has said that ore from the dumps would be permitted to be exported, provided exporters pays heavy fine to the state exchequer.

As per rough estimates, more than 750 million metric tonnes of ore is lying in the form of dumps, which have accumulated over the years.

A need for low grade ore in the international market has turned these useless heaps into export quality product.

The policy will also highlight the rehabilitation of the farmlands ruined due to the mining leases.

Goa exported 43 MMT of ore during the last fiscal, which was tapped through its 90-odd mining leases.