Goa Government has decided to withdraw suspension of Mining Leases in the State

The Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar on 20 July 2013 announced that the State Government has decided to withdraw the suspension order of mining leases in the state. The suspension order would be withdrawn in a phased manner on a case-to-case basis.

The Chief Minister also cleared that the even though the state government withdraws the suspension order of mining activities, the mines will become operational only after the Supreme Court lifts the ban and Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) provides environmental clearance for the mining leases. Although, he also informed that the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DoM&G) had verified the documents of 24 to 30 mines and decided to withdraw the suspension order.

The suspension order of all mining activities was issued by Goa government on 9 September 2013 following the report of the Justice (retired) M B Shah commission that exposed illegal mining and irregularities in the renewal of mining leases in the state. The commission recommended the action

The Supreme Court also imposed a temporary ban on the extraction and export of the ore from the state after the State Government and asked a central empowered committee to probe the charges of illegality into the mining activities.