SC reserves order on Goa mining

The Supreme Court today said an interim order would be passed on November 11 relating to constitution of one or two panels for looking into various aspects of iron ore mining in Goa including fixation of annual cap over the volume of extractions with an aim to preserve the metal for future generations.
A forest bench headed by Justice A K Patnaik also reserved its verdict on the issue of allowing mining operations in the state which had been halted following the report of a high- level commission headed by Justice M B Shah which had indicted all miners saying illegal extraction of iron ore during the past 12 years had caused a loss of Rs 35,000 crore to the state exchequer.

The bench said the panel constituted would determine as to what quantity of iron ores, already excavated and lying unused following the ban on the mining in the state, would be allowed to be transported and exported.
The bench had yesterday said that either one or two separate committees can be appointed to look into two issues of fixing the annual cap on the iron ore mining by keeping in view the principle of inter-generational equity and the environment carrying capacity.
NGO Goa Foundation had filed the PIL on alleged illegal iron ore extraction in the state.
The Central Empowered Committee suggested that the court may allow operations at some mines that have all-clearance, to ensure that livelihoods of employees are maintained.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for CEC, said the a state-owned public sector enterprise be appointed to mine the ore and hand it over to the state government, which can maintain an account of the money received from such sale.