Panaji: Mining firm Chowgule and Company has commenced operations at the Pale iron ore dump in North Goa, the first dump to be operationalised under the state’s 2023 policy regulating the handling of iron ore dumps, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday.
Sawant said the commencement marked an important milestone in the implementation of a transparent and regulated framework for the responsible utilisation of mineral resources lying in dumps generated from earlier mining operations.
“The initiative will generate economic activity, create employment, support local businesses, and contribute revenue to the state, while ensuring strict compliance with environmental and statutory safeguards,” the Chief Minister said.
He said the government remained committed to responsibly utilising Goa’s mineral resources while balancing economic opportunities with environmental protection and the interests of the people.
The state notified the Policy for Regulating Iron Ore Dump Handling in Goa in September 2023. The policy provides a regulatory framework for the handling and utilisation of iron ore dumps, including those generated from earlier mining activities.
The issue of mining dumps has been closely linked to Goa’s long and contentious iron ore mining history.
Iron ore mining has been economically significant to Goa since the 1950s. The sector witnessed major expansion before mining operations were suspended in 2012 following findings of widespread illegal mining and environmental violations. The Supreme Court, in 2014, held that the state’s mining leases had expired in 2007, while a subsequent 2018 judgment quashed the second renewal of 88 mining leases, bringing mining operations to a halt from March 2018.
The prolonged suspension affected mining companies, workers, transporters, exporters, and other businesses dependent on the sector. Before the suspension, Goa had emerged as a major exporter of low-grade iron ore, with nearly 99 per cent of its ore being exported, according to a NITI Aayog assessment.
Large quantities of ore had also accumulated in dumps over the years. The state’s 2023 policy sought to establish a regulated mechanism for dealing with such material while taking into account legal, environmental, and statutory requirements.
The government had earlier resorted to e-auctioning extracted ore. According to a 2022 reply in Parliament, Goa e-auctioned 18.35 million tonnes of iron ore between 2014 and 2022, earning ₹1,649.53 crore for the state.
