PANAJI
The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has granted environmental clearances (ECs) to three iron ore mineral blocks located in North Goa.
The three mineral blocks are Cudnem-Cormolem (Block VI) owned by M/S JSW Steel Limited, Cudem Mineral Block (VII) of M/s Vedanta Ltd, and Odisha-based M/s Kai International Pvt Ltd’s Tivim and Pirna mineral block (VIII).
“After scrutinising the documents submitted by the project proponents, the Authority decided to grant environmental clearance under the provisions of the EIA notification 2006,” reads the minutes of the meeting held last month.
The State Expert Appraisal Committee had in November recommended the mineral blocks for the grant of ECs to SEIAA.
The Project Proponents are directed to develop a greenbelt in a 7.5m wide safety zone all along the mine lease boundary in order to arrest pollution emanating from mining operations within the lease.
“The whole greenbelt shall be developed within the first five years, starting from the windward side of the active mining area,” SEIAA said.
The Authority has also directed the leaseholders to carry out afforestation with 2,500 saplings per hectare in the backfilled and reclaimed area of the mining lease, around the water body, along roadsides, in community areas, etc. The plantation should be of native species to ensure their use by the local people.
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 an area of approximately 38.5143 ha.
The Block VII Cudnem Mineral Block, with an area of 75.3004 ha, is located in Cudnem village in Bicholim and Sonus Vonvoliem and Onda village in Sattari taluka. The successful bidder, Vedanta Limited, has proposed the production of 0.5 MTPA of ore from the block.
As for the Thivim and Pirna mineral block (VIII), Kai International has proposed the production of 0.33 MTPA of ore from the total mining area of 72 ha located in Bardez taluka.
The leaseholders have to obtain the necessary permission from the Directorate of Mines and Geology regarding the amount of mineral they can mine per year before starting its mining operations.
