SC lifts ban on Goa iron ore mining, but sets cap

The SC Monday lifted its 18-month ban on iron ore mining in Goa, capping mineral extraction at 20 million tonnes per year. The upper limit can, however, be reviewed in six months after an expert committee gives its recommendations, the court said. The ban is in force since October 2012.
The court also said mining leases from 1962 onwards, for which renewals were not sought after 2007, stand expired and mining there is illegal. Ruling there will be no fresh leases granted for mining around 1 km of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, it directed the environment and forests ministry to identify eco-sensitive areas around national parks within six months.
The verdict, delivered by a forest bench comprising Justices A.K. Patnaik, S.S. Nijjar and F.M.I. Kalifulla, directed the Goa government to formulate in six months a scheme to utilise funds generated by e-auctions. Further, within six months, the expert panel will recommend how the extracted dumps are to be utilised, the court said.
The bench said workers on the rolls of all mining firms will be paid 50 per cent wages for the period they were out of work due to the court’s ban on mining and related activities.