The Goa Government plans to export decades-old accumulated
iron ore dumps.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said here on Friday that
the State plans to clean up huge dumps at various mine sites. Parrikar told
Business Line that the exercise would be undertaken within three to four
months. He said the State’s Department of Mining and Geology “have been asked
to prepare a plan for export of ore finesâ€Â.
Parrikar, who is a metallurgist by training, said export was
the only option for the low grade – 42 to 52 per cent Fe – ore available in the
State. Only some of the Chinese mills now use these low grade ores. Though
history of iron ore mining for exports in Goa dates back to Portuguese era, any
polluting unit such as a steel mill is unwelcome in the State.
“But we have huge ore dumps – some of six-decade vintage –
dotting the State with tiny land mass and population. We need to clean this
mess up,†the Chief Minister explained.
Since early September, export and transportation of ore out
of the State has been stopped after investigations found out several irregularities
in the mining of iron ore.
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