Panaji: The Goa government has started returning applications seeking new mining leases pending a report from National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and also the Apex Court outcome.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing a petition against illegal mining in Goa, has stopped mining operations in the coastal state.
The BJP-led government has asked Nagpur-based NEERI to assess impact of mining activities on environment and submit a report.
State Mines and Geology Department, which has received 1,144 applications for mining leases or seeking information whether some particular areas can be mined, has started the process of returning them, officials said.
Assistant Director (Mines & Geology) Parag Nagarcekar said a decision on these applications can be taken only after getting a report from NEERI and final judgment of the Supreme Court.
When the mining was banned in Goa in 2012, there were 90 working leases.
The state`s mining policy has also made it clear that no new leases will be granted till NEERI report is submitted and examined.
The iron ore exports in the state had been stopped after the Supreme Court took cognisance of illegal mining followed by a probe by Justice M B Shah Commission.
The over one-year-old ban on mining, a key revenue source for the tiny state, has adversely affected Goa`s economy.
The problems relating to unloading of trucks at Paradeep Port and their parking on national highways over prolonged periods were discussed in the meeting.
The port authorities stated that they could unload 1200 to 1500 trucks daily.
Considering different dimensions of the problem, the Chief Secretary asked the Chairman PPT and Director Mines jointly to look in to the actual loading of trucks from originating points and unloading capacity of the port and suggest measures to resolve the problem.
They were asked to submit their report within two weeks.
The Chief Secretary also advised the PPT authorities to adopt alternative mechanism for scaling up unloading capacity of the port.
The transport authorities were advised to create off-road transit points for trucks at strategic locations to reduce jams on roads.
Meanwhile, the state`s mining revenue collection up to December, 2013 was Rs 3894 crore against Rs 3803 crore for the corresponding period in 2012.
Dispatch of minerals up to December 2013 was 40.58 million tonne against 36.81 million tonne for the corresponding period in the last year.
The production of minerals, as targeted, was reduced to 40.05 million tonne by December 2013 against a total production of 42.97 million during the same period in 2012.
Regular monitoring of dispatch and control of illegal mining resulted in more dispatch and less exploitation of natural resources.
At present, 31 iron mines, 12 manganese mines and 20 iron and manganese mines were working in the state. Many mines were non-working state mainly due to the want of statutory clearances from central government departments.
The meeting resolved to promote increased utilisation of lumps and fines in the state.
