Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a move that strengthens the revival of iron ore mining in Goa, the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), functioning under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has granted prior environmental clearance (EC) to the Onda Mineral Block (X) located in Onda village of Sattari taluka. The mineral block is held by Agravanshi Pvt Ltd.
During a recent meeting held earlier this month, the Authority also approved an EC in favour of Chowgule and Company Pvt Ltd for the handling of an iron ore dump situated outside the lease boundary on privately owned land in Onda village. Both clearances were issued based on recommendations made by the Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC).
For the Onda Mineral Block, SEIAA has approved an annual production capacity of 0.5 million tonnes of iron ore. However, the Authority has clarified that the clearance will remain subject to the final outcome of a writ petition currently pending before the High Court, which challenges the constitutional validity of the tender documents issued under Phase I of the mineral block auction process.
The mining block spans an area of 61.7325 hectares and is estimated to contain iron ore reserves of approximately 5.63 million tonnes.
SEIAA has emphasized that the grant of prior EC under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, does not substitute for other statutory approvals. The project proponent will be required to obtain all necessary permissions and consents under applicable laws, rules and regulations before commencing operations.
The environmental clearance will remain valid for 30 years or until the exhaustion of the mineral block’s estimated life of 50 years, counted from the date of execution of the mining lease deed.
According to the project proposal, a total of 70 villages and towns fall within the 10-kilometre buffer zone of the mining area. This includes 59 villages and 11 census towns. Of these, 34 villages and two towns are located in Sattari taluka, 11 villages and four towns in Bicholim taluka, and 10 villages along with five towns in Ponda taluka, all in North Goa. Additionally, four villages in Dodamarg taluka of Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district are also within the buffer zone.
Soliye village and Ajoba Nagar in Honda village are situated immediately adjacent to the mineral block. For habitations located near the mine boundary, the project proponent has proposed maintaining a safety barrier of 50 metres from active mining areas. No rehabilitation or resettlement plan has been proposed as part of the project.
The project proponent has stated that the proposed mining activity is not expected to cause any significant adverse impact on the traditional lifestyle of residents living within the buffer zone.
With this approval, the number of mineral blocks that have commenced operations in Goa has risen to five. These include Vedanta’s Bicholim Mineral Block, Fomento Resources’ Advalpal–Thivim block, M/s Salgaocar Shipping Pvt Ltd’s Shirgao–Mayem block, the Shirgao mineral block operated by M/s Rajaram Bandekar Mines Pvt Ltd, and the Cudnem Mineral Block (VI) managed by JSW Steel Limited.
Separately, SEIAA has also granted environmental clearance to Chowgule and Company Pvt Ltd for the handling and management of an iron ore dump located outside its lease area on private land. The clearance is valid for a period of five years, within which restoration, rejuvenation and reclamation of the dump site must be completed.
As per the submitted proposal, the dump—containing iron ore with an estimated purity of around 40 per cent—has been in existence since 2004. The dump’s elevation ranges from a minimum contour level of approximately 116 metres to a maximum of about 161 metres.
