The Supreme Court today set aside the mining lease renewals to Goa miners, and banned all mining activity in the coastal state from March 16 onwards. Panaji: Goa’s iron ore mining leases cannot be auctioned as the lease period is still on and existing leaseholders are still the owners of the mines,” said Ambar Timblo, managing director, Fomento Resources and president of Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) on Wednesday. Mining operations have been completely banned in Goa from 16 th March 2018 ever since the Supreme Court cancelled 2 nd renewal of 88 nos of mining leases in the state vide its order dated 7th February 2018. The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Goa invited a cloud of suspicion by hastily launching the renewal of licences just a day after it unveiled a Grant of Mining Leases Policy on November 4, 2014. Supreme Court sets aside the mining lease renewals to Goa miners, says, mining activity will be allowed only till March 16. In the last fiscal, 46 mines produced 20 million tonnes of ore. More than 70 such clearances have been issued to more than 70 mining leases without site inspections or listening to villagers affected by mining … In Goa Foundation case, it was held that all the iron ore and manganese ore leases had expired on 22nd November, 2007 and hence, any mining operation carried out by the mining lease holders after that date was illegal. ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2018 Mayem is a village in Bicholim taluka of the north-eastern hinterland of Goa. Union Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi had said mining is crucial for Goa but at the same time, there is a judicial order. The state can export 20 million tonnes of ore annually, which is the ceiling prescribed by the Supreme Court. It is most famous for its lake, a popular tourist spot called the Mayem lake, which underwent Rs. The occasion for the book is the recent spate of ‘environment clearances’ granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests for such mining leases in Goa. The Centre is looking at the issue and is positive about finding a solution, he had added. PANAJI: The Goa government told the Supreme Court that the mining leases can be extended to the year 2037 as per the mining companies’ contention— but that it … 160 million (Rs. Mining operations in Goa came to a grinding halt in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases. The Supreme Court also ordered the creation of the Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund, laying down the path for a fair to all mining system, what we are proposing. 16 crore) beautification last year. 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