MOIL Limited, a government of India enterprise, has secured environment clearance for Gumgaon and Khodegaon manganese underground mine from the Maharashtra government.

According to MOIL Limited, the Maharashtra government has reserved an area of 814.71 Ha. in its favor for the prospecting of manganese ore in the districts of Nagpur and Bhandara.

The Nagpur-based miniratna state-owned manganese ore mining company stated: “After exploration and requisite clearances, application for environment clearance (EC) was submitted in respect of 126.84 HA. area, which is adjacent to MOIL’s Gumgaon mine.

“MOIL has received letter No. F.No. J-11015/74/2017-I-A.II(M) dated 18th June, 2021 from MoEF&CC communicating grant of EC of 1.02 lakh MTPA (including mineral rejects of 0.05 lakh MTPA).”

MOIL Limited said that as the identified resources are found at a depth of more than 200 meters from the surface, the company has to resort to underground mining. In connection to this, the manganese ore mining company will buy land for the mine and pursue other statutory clearances.

In the meanwhile, the manganese miner plans to implement steps for sinking of a new shaft.

The Gumgaon and Khodegaon mine will be the 12th for the company and the first new underground mine since its founding in 1962.

  Gumgaon and Khodegaon mine, India, Maharashtra, manganese, MOIL Limited, Nagpur