Team Herald
PORVORIM: While refraining from granting any time frame for resumption of iron ore mining activities in the State, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the House that the decision on auctioning of mining blocks will be taken only after the Supreme Court (SC) verdict.
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In 2 separate questions tabled by MLAs Pravin Zantye and Prasad Gaonkar, Sawant, Sawant said the government is intending to restart the mining activity in the State “However, since the matter is pending before the SC, the time frame cannot be provided,” he said, while adding that the decision on auctioning of mining blocks could only be taken after the finalisation of the matter before the SC.
Sawant said the State in consultation with the Centre filed review petitions in the SC for review of its judgment, which quashed 88 renewals granted to mining leases. “However, the petition is pending before the Court,” he said.
To a question posed by MLA Jayesh Salgaokar on the recovery of losses, Sawant said the govt is in the process to ascertain the findings of the chartered accountants and as such, the total amount to be recovered is yet to be ascertained. He informed the House that show cause notices had been issued to mining leases based on the summary report submitted by the chartered accountants and that personal hearings are ongoing to finalize the same. “Further, the reports form part of the enquiry taken up by the State to ascertain the findings and the same is pending,” he informed.
