The draft policy also aims to evolve a mechanism to end dormant non-operational mining leases issued by the Portuguese government, which ruled Goa before the state was liberated in 1961.

'A number of mining concessions are being kept idle for speculative purposes and future mining... The state government is also concerned with issues of conservation of minerals as well as sustainable development and as such would discourage opening existing dormant leases uniformly,' the draft policy states, adding that no such dormant leases would be permitted to work without an environmental clearance and forest clearance, wherever required.

While the state government's draft mining policy clearly advocates mining in close proximity of wildlife sanctuaries, it also speaks of maintaining the ecological balance in the state.

The draft mining policy is the brainchild of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who is also the minister for mining.

'It would be the endeavour of the state government to ensure that mining activities do not create an adverse impact to the environment and ecology,' the policy states.

There are more than a 100 mining leases in Goa's hinterland, which export nearly 30 million tonnes of iron ore annually.