In a setback to the speedy resumption of mining at recently auctioned iron ore mines, Mumbai High Court in a verdict has said that operations cannot be restarted without obtaining fresh environmental clearances, government sources said on Thursday, April 27.
The court has directed successful bidders to obtain fresh clearances from the appropriate authorities, the sources said.
In recently held auctions, JSW Steel Limited bagged the Cudnem-Cormolem iron ore blocks, with Fomento Resources winning the Advalpale-Tivim block, while the auction process is still ongoing for the Tivim-Pirna block.
The court held that the mining blocks did not have environment clearances for the period after April 2018, effectively overruling the Goa government’s stated stance that statutory clearances were fully transferable from erstwhile mining lease holders to new mining lease holders.
The three iron ore blocks where auctions have been completed recently have estimated aggregate reserves of 15.29 million mt.