Published: July 23, 2018 |

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Union mines minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the state government should send a detailed proposal to restart mining operations in the state, Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) president Gaonkar said.

Mining activities in Goa came to a halt on March 15 following the apex court order in February.

Gaonkar informed Tomar that the iron ore mining industry in Goa is more than 100 years old, permitted by the Portuguese regime.  In fact, iron ore mining is allowed by the Portuguese under mining concessions way back in the year 1905.  GMFP also informed Tomar that the first mining manifest was given in 1905 to Aly Ismail Mirsa Bagdad, a Turk from Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), to mine and area at Domingod-Molem near Collem.  In 1901, a French company, Compagnie de Mines de Fer de Goa, made plans to extract manganese ore from the Bicholim area.  Thereafter the government granted 591 mining concessions up to December 18, 1961.  Another six mining concessions were granted in the year 1963.  The Mines and Minerals (Regulation & Development) Act, 1957, was enforced at that time.

GMPF informed Tomar that mining is the largest employment generator in Goa, with close to 60,000 persons earning their livelihood through various avenues associated with the mining industry.  The Supreme Court judgement directly impacts around 30,000 people in the state.  Mining has played and continues to play a vital role in Goa’s economic development.  Goa’s iron ore mining industry has been one of the biggest earners of foreign exchange to the state exchequer, GMPF said.

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