Team Herald
PANJIM: The Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC) on Tuesday decided to move the High Court of Bombay at Goa over transportation of ore lying outside lease areas. The 66-page affidavit will be submitted by the Goa government on Wednesday in a bid to also ensure that mining companies do not lay off workers.
“The mining matter is currently being heard in the Supreme Court and the High Court. The government will file an affidavit seeking to allow transportation of ore lying outside the lease area but within the cap and for which royalty has been paid,” Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar told reporters on Tuesday after attending the CAC meeting at which Ministers Francis D’Souza and Vijai Sardesai were present.
The decision comes as the government is concerned that many mining companies have begun laying off workers after the SC order in February quashed the second renewal of 88 iron ore mining leases.
“It is a very serious matter. The affidavit is also because of this (wherein the workers are facing threat of being jobless),” he said, replying to a media question. Earlier during the day, Dhavalikar had stated that they were trying their best to have mining operations at least till year. “We are trying at our level best to start mining till 2020 year. If any firm is laying off workers, they should not expect any cooperation from us. I request mining companies not to remove workers at this stage as they are dependent on this industry for their livelihood. Wait for two months and let us decide on this after a petition is filed in the court,” he had said at a government function held on Tuesday morning.
D’Souza, speaking to Herald, said the affidavit will comprise a ‘Mining Plan’ for the future. “There are certain activities which only mine operators can take care of like removal of water from the pits. In the monsoon, it will overflow. There are various other issues that need to be looked into, and we have mentioned all of these in the petition,” he stated.
He added that the mining lobby and barge operators are expected to submit their legal opinion to the Attorney General of India.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary briefed the CAC members about the affidavit which is primarily a clarification on the Supreme Court order.
“5.7 million tonnes royalty paid ore is lying idle in the lease areas and 1 MT is on jetties, while 2 MT has been exported after February 8. Ore which is not on jetties, but royalty has been paid, should be allowed to be transported. This is the stand of the government,” Sardesai said, adding the government is clear on where it stands on the SC order.
Sources said the government is likely to tell the court that mining operations have been stopped by the SC order and not mining activities.
Sources also said that Senior Counsel Harish Salve’s opinion will come by Friday else the government will go to the Attorney General.
