Goa government's new mineral policy has banned fresh excavation of iron ore till an expert panel determines the optimum level of fresh mining that can be undertaken in this mineral rich coastal state.

The Goa Mineral Policy, which was notified last Saturday, mentions that it would take three months for the study to complete, after which the level of fresh mining can be decided by Goa Mines and Geology Department.

The Mines and Geology Department has named six of its former directors and joint directors as being involved in 20 different cases of illegal mining over the past six years in the State.

The names include those of M E Shivalingamurthy (IAS), Gangaram Baderia (IAS), K S Prabhakar (IAS), Basappa Reddy, D R Veeranna and H M Khayum Ali. While Basappa Reddy retired as the director of the department, Veeranna and Ali were additional directors.

Taking note of Goa's plea of "zero tolerance" against illegal mining, the Supreme Court today asked the state government as to why there was no regulatory mechanism in place to check illegal iron o

Irked over slow progress in clearing mineral concession applications in states, the Centre has asked mineral-rich states to clear them "strictly within the time-frame stipulated" in rules.

The State Government on Thursday demanded that the Centre should allow mineral-bearing States to impose green tax on mineral production.

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on Wednesday in its preliminary arguments told the Supreme Court that no mining operations can resume in Goa unless irregularities are rectified.

Amicus curie ADN Rao told a bench headed by Justice AK Patnaik that mining companies in Goa have violated rules and regulations in their operations and extraction of ores and they should not be permitted till an environmental impact assessment is done.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday wondered how the ministry of environment and forests could grant environment clearance to so many iron ore mines in a small state like Goa, many of which were near fore