Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 14: The Supreme Court has granted the mining companies in Goa to transport ore until the end of January 2021 which comes as a major relief for the mining industry. The SC has additionally asked the state to take possession of the ore lying at mining leases by invoking power under the Mineral Concession Rule at the end of this period by serving a month's notice.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that nearly four million tonne of iron ore is lying in the state and the order would now allow mining activities.

A SC bench comprising of Chief Justice S A Bobde, Justice A S Bopanna, and Justice V Ramasubramaniam observed, "The lessees are granted time upto the end of January 2021 for the removal of minerals excavated or mined on or before March 15, 2018, subject to payment of royalties and other charges."

"If within the time stipulated above the lessees could not remove the mineral, the government shall invoke the power undere Rule 12(1) (hh)," the SC said.