The expert appraisal committee (EAC) under the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) would examine the 139 suspended environment clearances (EC) for mines in Goa.

The EAC received report of a regional office of the MoEF on all 139 operational and non-operational mines Goa.

The regional office in Bangalore completed inspection of all mines and submitted reports to EAC for necessary action. EAC will meet later this month to discuss the reports submitted by the Bangalore regional office.

MoEF will get recommendation from the EAC on whether to revoke the EC granted to the mining company owing to non-compliance of certain conditions, or whether MoEF should lift the EC suspension.

EAC had framed guidelines for preparation of the final report in April. It had to submit the report within three months of its first sitting.

MoEF suspended the ECs of 139 mines in the state in September, 2012 and later constituted the EAC to examine the documents submitted by the companies.

MoEF had directed owners of the 139 mines to forward documents under which the mines have been operating for verification of their legality.

One of the terms of reference of the EAC is to evaluate compliance with respect to conditions stipulated as part of the EC of the mining project.