India’s Supreme Court appointed committee of experts has recommended an increase in production cap for iron ore mining in the country’s western province of Goa to 30 million mt per year from a current ceiling of 20 million mt per year but final implementation of the recommendation is yet to be approved by the apex court, an official in state mining directorate said on Monday.
He said that the committee of experts recommended a further increase in annual production of iron ore from mines in Goa to 37 million mt in the second phase after undertaking an environmental impact study after the first phase relaxation in production cap.
The recommendation of the committee is presently before the Supreme Court and the Goa government will be able to notify relaxation of the ceiling only after the apex court holds a fresh hearing and approves the recommendation, the official added.
According to the official, the early approval of the cap by the apex court is imperative since at least 70 percent of the mining leases is expected to get back into production starting this month, as monsoon rains abate across the region and restrictions on road transportation of iron ore has been lifted by the local government.