Panaji, Apr 2 (KNN)  After an 18-month-long ban,  the iron ore handling has begun at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) in Goa where the mining industry has been in a mess, following the Supreme Court’s order to allow the sale of iron ore.

“This followed easing of the ban by the Supreme Court on the sale of iron ore which has already been mined while continuing the ban on extraction of Ore,” Ministry of Shipping said.

The Mechanical Ore Handling Plant of Mormugao Port is highly versatile, capable of loading a Panamax size vessel in a single day. 

Iron ore mining and export from the coastal State was banned by the Supreme Court on October 5, 2012 to curb illegal extraction of the raw ingredient for steel.

The state government in February and March had e-auctioned around 11 million tonnes of iron ore stacked at different locations in Goa as per a Supreme Court order.

“The buyers will be allowed to ship the ore overseas or sell locally. About 2 lakh tons of ore had been lying at MPT,” the Ministry said yesterday. 

In September 2012, mining activities in the state came to a halt after the state government suspended them, following the Shah Commission report on illegal mining which was tabled in Parliament. (KNN/SD)