TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Out of the operational mines, prior to the ban on mining by the Apex Court, the Goa government Wednesday claimed that at least 60 could be in a position to resume operations, if the ban was lifted by the Supreme Court.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the House that presently the process is on to collect stamp duty from lease renewals, an exercise which was not done by his predecessors since 1987. “So far we have collected Rs 304 crore from seven lease renewals,” he informed.
It was informed that out of the eight leases renewed, only one has signed the lease agreement.
Parrikar said, “Signing of a lease does not create a right for the lease holders to engage in illegalities and government will not hesitate to cancel a lease if lessees are found to be engaged in illegal mining operations.”
He said that the government sought to sign agreements with the lease holders so as to pool in some revenue for the State and ensure that they have all the clearances obtained from the environment ministry, Indian Bureau of Mining, Wildlife Board, Pollution Control Board and so on.
Parrikar said that stamp duty has been collected from renewal of leases for 20 years (from 2007 to 2027).
He agreed to examine a suggestion made in the House on Wednesday of collecting stamp duty from 1987 to 2007. “This will help me to get another Rs 500 crore,” he said.
While replying to queries in the Goa Assembly, Parrikar said, “Currently mining is not functional and only one party has so far signed a lease agreement.” The process is on to sign agreements with the rest after verifying that there are no violations, he said.
The Justice Khandeparkar committee will examine leases case by case and will investigate illegalities.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “In case there were any violations the government should terminate the leases and take over the same.” He also lashed out at Parrikar when he said that the Justice Khandeparkar committee will investigate Shah Commission violations.
“Shah Commission has not violated anything,” Sardesai said.
The Opposition MLA grilled Parrikar as to how lease deeds in the case of seven mining leases were not signed for more than six months. “How come they were allowed to work without a lease deed from 2008-2012?” he grilled Parrikar. According to Sardesai these leases ought to have been cancelled.
“The government is not doing its homework on the provisions available under the law for termination of leases,” said Sardesai adding that section 4A of the Mines and Minerals Act 1957 clearly empowers a State government to cancel a lease which has indulged in environmental violations.
In another query he demanded to know if leases involved in illegal mining can be renewed.
Sardesai voiced concerns of the government creating a liability by collecting Stamp Duty in advance. “Will it not have to be refunded if the renewals don’t happen?” he asked.
Parrikar however took the cover of the matter being sub-judice and refrained from replying to some. Taleigao MLA Atanassio Monserratte sought to know if any action was proposed against anyone for not collecting the Stamp Duty.
Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco also asked, “How are you renewing mining leases when the MoEF has suspended them.”
“It is only suspended not cancelled,” Parrikar said.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that the seven leases which have been renewed are as per the Act and the renewals were done after ensuring that all clearances have been obtained from the environment ministry, Indian Bureau of Mining, Wildlife Board, Pollution Control Board and so on.
