Lok Sabha Question No. 2960 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Violation of Mining Regulations in Goa
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Captain Viriato Fernandes

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2960

ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## VIOLATION OF MINING REGULATIONS IN GOA

2960. SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the first leaseholder has been violating most of the statutory provisions governing sustainable mining since commencement of mining activity in Goa and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the State Government is commencing mining regulation with less/inadequate staff, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  mining  has  commenced  with  no  officials  of  IBM  or  the Director of Mines & Geology at mine sites and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether most of the new mining blocks are commencing mining operations without obtaining surface rights from Goan villagers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether it is a fact that all ore extracted from new mining blocks is being sold without  grading  by  the  authorities  and  self  declaration  is  accepted  for  payment  of royalty and other charges and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a):    As  per  existing  law,  before  execution  of  the  mining  lease  by  the  State Government,  it  is  mandatory  for  the  prospective  lessees  to  obtain  the  requisite statutory  clearances,  including  Environmental  Clearance.  The  lease  holders  are required  to  ensure  compliance  of  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  clearances  and approvals accorded by the respective authorities, failing which necessary action is taken by the concerned authorities of the State Government or Central Government under the respective Acts and applicable Rules / Guidelines.
- (b):  As per information provided by Government of Goa, manpower assessment for 2024 & 2025 has been done by the Directorate of Mines and Geology as per which final sanction staff strength is 125. To meet the deficiency, technical staff has been recruited by the Directorate on contractual basis.

(c):  As per the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, mining can only be undertaken under a valid mining lease. As per Rule 20 of  the  Mineral  Conservation and Development Rules, 2017 (MCDR 2017), a lease holder is required to send a notice for opening of mine to the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)  within  fifteen  days  of  such  opening.  As  per  the  provisions  of  MCDR  2017, monthly returns are submitted by the lessees to IBM.

As  per  information  provided  by  Government  of  Goa,  the  Directorate  of  Mines  and Geology has introduced Ore Monitoring System software i.e. Bhumija wherein the production  and  dispatch  of  ore  are  monitored.  Each  truck  is  fitted  with  Global Positioning System and the ore movement is tracked online. There are weighbridge setup at the leases where every dispatch is weighed and online transit permits are issued. Further, the statutory payments such as royalty, District Mineral Fund, Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund, National Mineral Exploration Trust and other payment are made online through this system.

(d):  Government of Goa has informed that all matters related to compensation are subject to decision by the Additional Collector as per the Notification No. 03/27/2024/Major/Mines/3092 dated 23.01.2025 of the State Government.

(e):  As per information provided by Government of Goa, the Directorate of Mines and Geology  draws  samples  from  the  ore  stacks  which  are  analysed  for  grade  from National  Accreditation  Board  for  Testing  and  Calibration  Laboratories  (NABL) accredited lab based on which the royalty is taken from the lessees.

Further, Ministry of Mines has issued guidelines on 03.10.2023 to major mineral rich States for prevention of mis-classification of grades of iron ore and other minerals by using technology. The State Governments have been requested to implement the said guidelines  by  suitably  incorporating  the  same  in  the  rules  framed  by  the  State Governments  under  Section  23  C  of  the  Mines  and  Minerals  (Development  and Regulation) Act, 1957.

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