Sesa Goa announces resumption of mining operations in the state

Panaji: Sesa Goa, a subsidiary of Vedanta on Monday announced resumption of its mining operations in the state, after a gap of three years.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar formally launched the mining operations at Sesa Goa's Codli mines.

Though the mining resumption was announced on Monday, the actual extraction of ore will start only after the monsoon season gets over next month.

Parsekar said the resumption of mining is an indication of "Acche Din."

"We can say that Acche Din has begun for the mining sector. We faced the wrath of mining closure for last three years. Government has tried to do best to help people affected with mining closure," the Chief Minister said.

Government will give all possible help for the mining sector. We are aware about the problems faced by mining dependents, he stated.

Parsekar said the state government has already announced that mining would resume in October this year.

"But Vedanta advanced the date of resumption to August. This is a welcome step," he said.

The Chief Minister said rest of the mining companies should start operations in October.

"If required we will order the mining companies to restart the mines. We have given all the clearances and now it is for them to start the mining," Parsekar said.

Codli mine which was Asia's largest mining site before it was shut down has the extraction capacity of 3.1 million tons.

"We waited for three years for this day. We were waiting for our mining operations to resume. Government was also willing that the mining operation should resume," said Kishor Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Sesa Iron Ore.

"We have no control over the market prices but we can at least have proper regulated mining operation. This is possible only with the help of employees," he said responding to worries about decreasing international pricing.