The Supreme Court has lifted an 18 month long ban on mining in Goa.

However, the SC capped the annual output at 20 million tonne, which is almost 45 per cent of Goa's peak ore production.

The court has directed that since the deemed mining leases of the lessees in Goa expired on 22 November 1987, and since the maximum of 20 years renewal period of the deemed mining leases in Goa expired on 22 November 2007, mining by the lessees after that date was illegal.

Before the ban, about 90 mines were operating in Goa producing nearly 45 million tpa ore.

The SC has also asked the state government to set up an expert panel and submit a report regarding capping of output and other issues within six months. The court directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to identify eco-sensitive areas around national parks within six months and said there would be no grant of lease for mining within a distance of one km from national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Though the ban has been revoked, the miners will still need to get fresh environmental clearances to restart excavation and hence actual mining may only start by September 2014.