Executive Summary:
This document presents the Minister of Coal and Mines' response to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding mining regulation violations in Goa. It addresses concerns about statutory compliance, staffing, oversight, surface rights, and ore sales. The response references existing laws, rules, and guidelines, and outlines actions taken by the Goa government to ensure regulation and compliance.
Key Points / Main Content:
Statutory Compliance and Enforcement:
* Mining leaseholders must obtain statutory clearances, including Environmental Clearance, before commencing operations.
* Leaseholders are responsible for complying with clearance terms and conditions, with enforcement actions taken by State or Central Government authorities for violations.
Staffing and Oversight:
* The Directorate of Mines and Geology has a sanctioned staff strength of 125 and has recruited technical staff on a contractual basis to address deficiencies.
* Mining must be undertaken under a valid mining lease, and leaseholders must notify the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) within fifteen days of opening a mine.
* Lessees are required to submit monthly returns to IBM.
Ore Monitoring and Royalty Payments:
* The Directorate of Mines and Geology uses "Bhumija" Ore Monitoring System software to track ore production and dispatch.
* Trucks are fitted with GPS, and weighbridges are used to weigh dispatches, with online transit permits issued.
* Statutory payments, including royalty, are made online.
Surface Rights and Compensation:
* Compensation matters are subject to the decision of the Additional Collector, as per Notification No. 03272024MajorMines3092 dated 23.01.2025.
Ore Grading and Misclassification Prevention:
* The Directorate of Mines and Geology samples ore stacks for grade analysis by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited labs, which determines royalty payments.
* The Ministry of Mines issued guidelines on 03.10.2023 to prevent misclassification of ore grades, requesting States to incorporate these guidelines into their rules under Section 23 C of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957.
Impact Analysis:
Mining Leaseholders:
* Impact: Required to ensure compliance with statutory clearances, face potential enforcement actions for violations, and adhere to ore monitoring and royalty payment procedures.
* Action Required: Obtain necessary clearances, comply with terms and conditions, submit required returns, and adhere to ore monitoring and royalty payment processes.
Government of Goa (Directorate of Mines and Geology):
* Impact: Responsible for assessing manpower needs, ensuring ore monitoring, royalty collection, and addressing compensation matters.
* Action Required: Maintain adequate staffing levels, operate and improve the Ore Monitoring System, collect royalties accurately, and address compensation claims effectively. Implement the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Mines on 03.10.2023.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM):
* Impact: Receives notices for mine openings and monthly returns from leaseholders.
* Action Required: Monitor compliance through submitted notices and returns.
Goan Villagers:
* Impact: Potentially impacted by mining operations commencing without obtaining surface rights, and entitled to compensation as per State Government notification.
* Action Required: Pursue compensation claims through the Additional Collector as needed.
Key Entities Referenced
Goa: A state in India where mining activities are taking place and are subject to regulations.
Ministry of Mines: The Indian government ministry responsible for the administration of mines and minerals.
Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957: An act of the Parliament of India that regulates the mining sector.
Indian Bureau of Mines: A multi-disciplinary government organization under the Ministry of Mines, engaged in promoting systematic and scientific development of mineral resources.
Directorate of Mines and Geology: A department of the Government of Goa responsible for the administration of mineral resources in the state.
Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017: Rules established in 2017 to regulate mineral conservation and development.
SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY: The Minister of Coal and Mines at the time of the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories: An accreditation body that provides accreditation to testing and calibration laboratories.
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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