New Delhi, Oct 31 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it may consider constituting one or two panels for looking into various aspects of iron ore mining in Goa including fixation of annual cap over the volume of extractions with an aim to preserve the mineral for future generations.

The Forest Bench headed by Justice AK Patnaik said either one or two separate committees can be appointed to look into two issues of fixing the annual cap on the iron ore mining by keeping in view the principle of inter-generational equity and the environment carrying capacity.

"So, basically two things have to be found out which are the environment carrying capacity and the question of inter-generational equity. May be two expert bodies can also be formed," the Bench also comprising justices SS Nijjar and FM Ibrahim Kalifulla said.

The Goa Miners Association, meanwhile, asserted that there is no case for banning the iron ore mining in Goa, judged from the past record of 60 years of mining causing no destruction and no damages to the people or their environments.

Contesting the Goa Foundation's case based on the Justice Shah Commission report before the Supreme Court, its senior counsel Chandra Uday Singh cited how Goa has progressed to complete with the most developed states like Kerala and Himachal Sector in education, health and all human statistics.

Even the lower rung of people are better off in Goa because of mining, he argued. His submissions will continue on Thursday when the 3-judge 

Bench headed by Justice AK Patnaik will hold sitting only up to 1 pm.

Earlier, Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran argued on behalf of the Ministry of Environment and Forests while senior advocate Prashant Bhushan submitted a 41-page rejoinder on behalf of Goa Foundation, trashing the submissions made by the mine owners.