Goa Foundation seeks clarity on auction of auctioned iron ores

Goa Foundation, the NGO petitioner in the Goa mining matters, has raised objections to the states latest e-auction of ore scheduled for October 11-13th*.

Under the directives of the Supreme Court, the state of Goa has been conducting auctions for an ore inventory totaling 16.8 million tonnes.

In a communication addressed to the Directorate of Mines and Geology, the NGO has highlighted three lots that were not initially included in the inventory, asserting that their auction requires approval from the Supreme Court. The state is reported to have informed the Goa Assembly that the auctioned volumes have already surpassed the 16.81 million tonne inventory by one million tons.

"The current lots the NGO has issues with (the last three lots at Maina village (T.C. No. 17/60), Sy No. 101/0 of Navelim village and lot no. 22 at Trimurti Jetty) belong to Vedanta and Damodar Mangalji and total 43 lakhs tonnes; as per the base price they would be valued at minimum of Rs 70 crores of the Rs 121 crores being auctioned", quoted the letter.*

Any such lot outside the inventory, the NGO argues, would be covered under the Supreme Courts order for dump mining, which would require a mining lease and an environment clearance.

The state Cabinet recently approved a dump policy. In another statement, shared with the media long with its letter to the DMG, the NGO has faulted the state for not first seeking public consultation on the proposed policy.

* Updated