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The Goa Government today told the State Legislative Assembly that there are 37 mining reject dumps on revenue land, majority of which belong to big mining firms.
In a written reply on the floor of the House, the State Revenue Minister, Mr Francis D’Souza, said that 37 mining dumps are on government revenue land, of which 27 are in Sattari taluka, seven in Bicholim and the others in rest of the mining belt.
The dumps belong to prominent mining firms from the State such as Dempo, Timblo, Fomento, Salgaoncar Mines, Rajaram Bandekar, Sesa Goa, Rajaram Bandekar and others, the reply mentioned.
Mr D’Souza, however, refused to state as for how long the dumps were lying on the land but added that the cases against these companies were pending with different authorities, including the Sub Divisional Magistrate, since 2006.
In his reply, the Minister termed the dumping of ore as “encroachment” on government revenue land.
The mining dumps are usually rejected ore which is not of export quality due to less iron content in it. The demand for ore in the international market has now made it worth exporting since 2005.
The Goa Government has put a ban on handling of the dumps. But the state mining policy, which is being drafted, has hinted at allowing the export of dumps.
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