Sesa Goa is awaiting the clearance of the union environment ministry to resume operations in its iron ore mine in Karnataka.

Recently, the forest advisory committee (FAC) of the environment ministry recommended conditional clearance for the mining operation by the firm.

In its recommendation, the panel opined that the company should be mandated to comply with all conditions stipulated by the Supreme Court in writ petition (Civil) no 562/2009 and in other similar cases.

The FAC is the top advisory body of the ministry for issues related to forests, including grant of forest clearances and diversion of forest land.

Owing to Supreme Court-imposed mining bans in Goa and Karnataka, Sesa Goa is unable to operate its mines. In Goa, the ban is still continuing but in Karnataka, it was lifted by the apex court in April.

Sesa Goa's mine in Chitradurga district was also among the beneficiaries of the lifting of ban in Karnataka but the Vedanta group firm could not reap the benefits as its mining lease had expired in October 2012 itself. With the expiry of mining lease, forest clearance granted to the company had also ended.

The company, after grant of forest clearance, can resume mining operations in Karnataka on deemed basis till the lease is renewed.