The government of the Indian state of Goa has ordered a temporary suspension of all iron ore mining activities in the state after a federal government investigative panel found "serious illegalities and irregularities" in mining operations, according to a statement from the government of Goa issued on Tuesday, September 11.
Goa has not banned transportation of iron ore already mined and stored at ports. The state government will form a verification committee to investigate mining operations before granting any further approvals for resumption of iron ore mine, the government statement said.
According to India's National Mineral Inventory, Goa accounts for 5.3 percent of the country's total 28.52 billion mt of iron ore reserves. As the second largest producer of iron ore, mostly low grade, Goa produces 50 million mt of iron ore annually and exports almost all of it.