Goa govt mining suspension lifting after Chovoth
PTI, PANAJI | 06 September 2013 20:23 IST
The Goa government will begin the process of lifting suspension on the mining leases only after the ten-day long Ganesh Chaturthi festival beginning from Monday, a senior official said on Friday.
Assistant Director of Mines and Geology Department Parag Nagarcekar told PTI that the process to sign lease agreements with mine owners will begin only after Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar recently announced that the Mines and Geology Department would sign lease agreements with mine owners, after which suspension on their leases would be withdrawn.
In the first phase, around 24 leases would be signed, mostly belonging to major mining giants like Sesa Goa, Chowgules, Salgaoncars and others.
The state government has clarified that withdrawal of the suspension order does not mean that mining activity in those leases could resume.
Mine owners would have to wait for the Supreme Court to lift the ban on exports and fresh extractions which was imposed an year ago.
The Supreme Court is likely to speed up hearing of the Goa mining case from September 17 onwards.
Almost 25 per cent of Goa's population is dependent on mining and the state is the biggest exporter of iron ore to China and Japan.
Before it is too late, Goans get up and stop Mining in Goa. If not then be ready to be flushed out from the water coming from the Dam. Goa is in danger. The tragedy happened to the people of Khedernath can happened to the people of Goa, if Mining starts. Stop Mining. Save Goa.
MINING CREATES TREMOR AND IN RETURN IT CREATES EARTHQUAKE. SAVE GOA FROM EARTHQUAKES. BAN MINING IN GOA.