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“Decision on dump handling issue is pending in the Supreme Court and we have applied for permission to handle the dumps. We will soon get the permission,” Chief minister Pramod Sawant said.
In December 2021, ahead of the 2022 assembly elections, Sawant-led BJP government had granted approval to a new policy for handling of mining dumps outside and inside the leases through auctioning by the state government and allowing lessees to handle the dumps to restart mining activities in the state.
Mines department has said that around 20 million tonnes of iron ore is lying in the form of dumps and it can be exported over the period of four to five years.
The state government through policy wanted to permit handling of low-grade iron ore generated between November 23, 2007, and September 11, 2012.
The mineral rejects, sub grade ore or by-product, which were generated during the course of mining from November 23, 2007, to September 11, 2012, shall be disposed off as may be determined by the state government, including auctioning as per existing e-auction policy of the state government, policy said.
In terms of mineral rejects, sub grade ore or by-product generated post September 11, 2012, the policy states that the directorate of mines and geology (DMG) “on case to case basis, upon verification of relevant records or documents, may permit the lessee” to transport it. This ore, stacked within the lease area and below the threshold value at the point in time, has become marketable at present, the policy states.
In view of the amended Rule 12D(k) of the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Mineral) Concession Rules, 2016, the policy states that the ore can be handled provided the applicant makes the payment as specified in the schedule of charges, and obtains necessary statutory clearances and permission from the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and the directorate general of mines safety.
Referring to the Goa (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage and Transportation of Minerals) Rules, 2013, the policy states that in case where the grade is above the current threshold value, the state government will charge a royalty as per the average sale price of minerals as prescribed by the IBM.
“The royalty shall be chargeable on the line of the highest prescribed by the state government,” the policy states.
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