PANAJI
The Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) has recommended grant of Environmental Clearances (ECs) to three iron ore mineral blocks all located in North Goa.
During its meeting held last month, the SEAC decided to recommend the mineral blocks -- Cudnem-Cormolem, Cudnem and Thivim & Pirna -- for grant of EC before the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
Cudnem-Cormolem (Block VI) is owned by steel giant M/s JSW Steel Limited, while Cudnem Mineral Block (VII) belongs to M/s Vedanta Ltd. Odisha based M/s Kai International Pvt Ltd has won Thivim and Pirna mineral block (VIII).
“After scrutinizing the documents submitted by the project proponents, the committee decided to recommend to the Authority (SEIAA) for grant of environmental clearance under provisions of EIA notification 2006,” reads the minutes of the meeting.
The SEAC said that the EC, does not tantamount to approvals/consent/permissions etc. required to be obtained under any other Act/Rule/regulation. “The project proponent is under obligation to obtain approvals /clearances under any other Acts/ Regulations or Statutes, as applicable, to the project,” it said.
Further maintaining “the prior EC is subject to the outcome of the Writ Petition 2022 regarding challenging the constitutionality of the tender documents of Phase I auction of Goa mines and PIL WP 2029/2023 regarding challenging the state’s decision to go ahead with the auction of the mining block”.
The Cudnem-Cormolem (VI) mineral block, belonging to M/s JSW Steel Limited is located in Bicholim taluka. The company has proposed the production of 0.50 million tonnes of ore per annum from the block, which spans around an area of 38.5143 ha.
The Block VII Cudnem Mineral Block with area 75.3004 Ha Located in Cudnem Village in Bicholim and Sonus Vonvoliem and Onda village in Sattari Taluka. The successful bidder, Vedanta Limited has proposed production of 0.5 MTPA of ore from the block.
As far as the Thivim and Pirna mineral block (VIII) is concerned, the Kai International has proposed production of 0.33 MTPA of ore from the total mining area of 72 ha located in Bardez taluka.
Pointing to the iron ore production cap of 20 MTPA imposed by the Supreme Court, SEAC has directed the companies to first obtain the necessary permission from the Directorate of Mines and Geology with regard to the amount of mineral they can mine per year, before starting its mining operation.
“The Project Proponent shall prepare a digital map (land use & land cover) of the entire lease area once in five years for the purpose of monitoring land use pattern and submit a report to this Authority/ Concerned Regional Office of the MoEF&CC,” it said.
The Project Proponent has to also organize employment-based apprenticeship/ internship training program every year with appropriate stipend for the youth and other programs to enhance the skill of the local people. “The preference shall be given to the local people for the purpose of employment as committed before the SEAC,” it said.
