PANJIM: Mines and Geology department will be holding a special inspection of State’s oldest mining company, Damodar Mangalji and Company Limited (DMC) on Monday before suspending its lease, as directed by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).

IBM, in an order issued on April 18, has directed the company to suspend the mining operations of its Band Doncol iron ore mine in Pissurlem, for violations of provisions of Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 1988.

The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to probe illegal mining in Karnataka has ruled out resumption of mining operations in the state until mining plans in category A and B

Bauxite-rich East Coast region hasn’t seen a single mine open in 30 years.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has voiced his opposition to some provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Bill-2011, stating that the bill if enacted in the current form would be a departure from federal structure of the constitution.

Pointing out that regulation of mines and mineral development is basically a state subject, Patnaik said that the MMDR Bill attempts to transfer certain powers and functions being exercised by states to the Centre.

Leases to be cancelled if firms fail to adhere to revised norms

PANJIM: The high level mining monitoring committee appointed by the State will start its visit to all 90-odd mines, ahead of the monsoons to ensure that the mining sites are not disaster prone. The mining leases will be cancelled if companies fail to adhere to the revised safety norms, which make it mandatory for mining firms to get the surface rights of the area around their mines, which is likely to be affected with mining activity.

PANJIM: The minor mineral extractors in the state will now have to seek permission from union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) before applying for the licence with the state Mines and Geology department, according to an order issued the Mines department on Thursday following Supreme Court directives.

The directives stated that the leases of minor mineral including their renewal for an area of less than five hectares be granted by the States/Union Territories only after getting environmental clearance from the MoEF. The order was passed on February 27, in a petition filed by one Deepak Kumar and other v/s state of Haryana.

PANJIM: Goa State Pollution Control Board on Tuesday decided to re-inspect the mining project of Pandurang Timblo Industries in Shigao after its mines manager made a statement on Tuesday before the former informing that the company had stopped mining operations recently.

GSPCB had issued a show-cause notice to the company after villagers had complained mining operation was polluting a nullah which leads to the Dudhsagar waterfalls.

New Delhi: Miners who ravaged the Aravalis in Faridabad distict till May 2009 want to resume small-scale mining in the garb of “rehabilitation” of deep pits.

The Centre and Orissa government find themselves on a war footing as the Centre holds the state responsible for stepping on its toes by determining royalty rates of iron ore.

SC nod can lead to production of 6-7 mt from 49 category A, B mines

The shortage of iron ore in Karnataka is likely to ease by July, as regular mining is expected to resume in a couple of months from now. The Supreme Court-appointed authorities are preparing reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) plans, stoking hopes of an end to the stalemate. Once the apex court approves the plans, mining can resume in 49 leases of 50-hectares and above falling under the A and B category mines in the districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur.