You are required to submit a copy of the approvals issued by the chief wildlife warden and the clearance within 15 days of the receipt of letter,' said a pollution control notice, dated Aug 14, to them.

'Till Aug 31, no mining company has submitted any documentation. If they do not produce documents, we will issue showcause notice and then suspend operations,' de Souza said.

Goa's 103 leased mines produce 33 million tonnes of iron ore, bauxite and manganese ore, which are exported largely to China and Japan.

Environmentalists and opposition parties have alleged that nearly 18 percent of the ore exported is mined illegally.