TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The State government is likely to terminate the leases of 40 mines, whose delay in filing the ‘J Form’ was condoned by the former Congress government.
Directorate of Mines and Geology on September 15, 2012 had issued show cause notices to 40 mining firms, to explain why action should not be initiated against them for unlawful condonation of delay and why the leases should not be declared as null and void.
Director of Mines Prasanna Acharya told Herald that the firms have been called for personal hearing next week onwards. “We have already received their replies and the hearing would be held according to procedure,” he said.
Prasanna, however, said that decision on cancellation of lease has to be taken by State government. The beneficiaries include mining majors such as Sociedade Timblo Irmaos Ltd, NCP leader Prafulla Hede and Congressman turned MGP politician Dinar Tarcar.
A senior Mines Department official confirmed that government is likely to cancel all 40 leases, stating that the previous government had condoned the delay although ‘it was not allowed to do so’.
The Public Accounts Committee headed by then leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar and Justice MB Shah Commission in its report had castigated erstwhile Congress government for allowing such illegalities.
Shah Commission in its report on illegal mining had termed the entire exercise as ‘an attempt amounting to doing favours to the mine owners.’ The Commission had alleged criminal misconduct on the part of officials, officers and ministers in allowing the condonation of delay in converting the mining concessions into leases.
The investigations have summed up that the State misused rule 24A of Mineral Concession Rule, 1960, by condoning the delay arbitrarily. Parrikar had then announced filing of FIR against two former CMs ~ Pratapsing Rane and Digambar Kamat, as the condonation was done when they were in power.
Licence fee deadline ends today
PANJIM: Of the 16 companies which were issued notices to renew their expired mining lease licences, all seven whose deadlines had expired on February 28, will have to pay the fees by Thursday, officials said Wednesday.
Sesa Goa, had sought extension of stamp duty payment date by claiming that it did not have any ‘money’ in its bid to get more time. But failure of Mines Department to entertain their plea has led it to decide to pay the duty by March 7.
The deadline for the remaining mining companies to pay their stamp duty expires Thursday. From the second list two companies ~ Chougule and Bandekar, have paid Rs 22.2 crore on Wednesday.
