PANAJI: The state government has stopped transporting iron ore in Goa considering the selection of assembly elections on Monday.
Of the 40 constituencies in the state, the mining belt has nine and non-commencement of mining is the main problem.
“Given the 2022 general election, transportation ore will remain closed on February 14,” said the Mines and Geological Directorate.
Recently the state government auctioned iron ore and nearly 60% of ores bought by bidders from 2.2 million tons.
All political parties have promised to restart mining activities within six months of forming the government.
Seven of the nine constituencies in the mining belt were represented by BJP in the Assembly.
Mining stopped in the state in March 2018 after the Supreme Court canceled the second update from mining rent.
After the behavioral guidelines for the election were announced, the state’s efforts to restart mining were jammed.
The state government has taken various initiatives to restart mining in Goa, but not one initiative to achieve a logical conclusion.
After the Supreme Court rejected the review of the petition submitted by state and mining companies, the Goa government tried to find other methods to restart mining.
The government issued a notification to form corporate development of cave mineral, but failed to frame the rules for the functioning of the corporation.
The Mining Department compiled rules and sent files to the Legal Department for inspection, but the Law Department returned the file with several queries.
The state government has identified eight mining rentals in Bicholim and Sattari, but Mineral Exploration companies Ltd has not submitted a final report to make auction.