In a move that could pave the way for resumption of iron ore mining, the Goa government Thursday withdrew a more than two-year-old directive that temporarily suspended all mining activity in the state.
The order by the state's directorate of mines and geology was issued Thursday. Mining in the state was suspended in September 2012.
The department had cleared the renewal of 87 mining leases over the last few months, handing over nearly all of them to the same mining companies which were indicted in a Rs.35,000 crore illegal mining scam exposed by the Justice M.B. Shah Commission in 2012.
The renewal of mining leases to the same companies accused of illegal mining by the commission was challenged in the Supreme Court by God Foundation, an environment NGO. The apex court will hear the plea Jan 26.
Earlier, a petition by the NGO in 2012 had resulted in the Supreme Court banning iron ore mining in Goa, until the ban was formally lifted in April 2014.
