PANJIM: Following Wednesday’s Supreme Court order, the Cabinet Advisory Committee on Thursday decided to allow the movement of ore on which royalty has been paid from the jetties till the ports.
The CAC, which met exclusively on this issue, has, however, placed some conditions for transportation. “Transportation of ore will be allowed from jetties having exclusive royalty paid ore stored prior to 15/03/2018 and so also having royalty paid ore transported from stockyards after 16/03/2018,” the CAC note reads.
The note further says that the permission or clearance of Directorate of Mines is independent of the permission to be obtained through GSPCB that has independently been notified of the Apex Court order.
CAC member Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza said that the CAC feels that the mining companies that did not go to the Apex Court would need HC permission for transportation. “Though the Apex Court order is in general, the companies other than those that went to court, should seek permission from the HC before transportation,” he told Herald.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said that the CAC discussed the scope of SC relief. “The CAC will consult the Advocate General on transportation of ore outside lease area for which royalty has been paid,” he said.
In a major relief to the mine owners and traders, Supreme Court allowed transportation of iron ore that was stocked at jetties, port and in barges and for which royalty was paid on or before March 15.
Mining firms Vedanta Ltd, VM Salgaocar and Bro, Fomento Resources Pvt Ltd, Ambar Timblo and MPT had filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court pleading to allow transportation of ore stacked at jetties, port and barges. All the five applicants were directed to go back to Bombay High Court at Goa for the modified order.
The applicants had told the Court that several tonnes of ore are in the process of transportation and the High Court order stopping transportation has caused them heavy losses.
