PANAJI
The State government has notified a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate the import of minor minerals from outside the State for storage, processing and subsequent export through Goa, introducing a structured permission mechanism aimed at strengthening monitoring of mineral movement.
Director of Mines and Geology Narayan Gad has issued the SOP in exercise of powers under Rule 47A of the Goa Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1985. Under the notified procedure, any person intending to bring minor minerals into Goa for export will have to obtain prior permission from the Competent Officer. The permission will be granted only after payment of the prescribed processing fee under the Rules.
The notification further makes it mandatory for persons intending to store or process imported minor minerals in Goa to seek separate approval from the Competent Officer. Applicants will have to declare the proposed storage location, the type and quantity of the mineral, and obtain all necessary clearances from the concerned authorities before permission is granted.
For the onward movement of the stored or processed minerals, the applicant will have to apply for a transit permit or export permit, furnishing details such as the nature, quantity and type of mineral, the mode of transport and the destination. In the case of processed minerals, details of the quantity processed and waste generated will also have to be submitted.
The SOP provides that the Competent Officer may issue transit or export permits after conducting necessary inquiries, following which transit passes will be issued. To strengthen oversight, the notification also empowers the Competent Officer to direct applicants to install weighbridges or impose other conditions considered necessary for better monitoring of imported minor minerals.
