PANJIM: A statement that could come as a major relief to people affected by mining closure, CM Pramod Sawant has proposed the idea of forming Mining Corporation to recommence mining activities.
“Some solution has to be made in order to resume mining operations and we (government) are on it. In the interest of the people affected by mining closure, we will form a Corporation to resume the operations,” the CM said in a 32-minute-long interview on Doordarshan telecast on the eve of New Year.
The State government had last month filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against its February 2018 judgment imposing a ban on the activity. The matter is likely to come up for hearing on January 8, 2020. The SC had quashed second renewals granted to 88 iron ore mining leases in the State, bringing the mining industry to a standstill again.
The apex court had sought for fresh auctioning or to go ahead with constituting a Corporation, and the CM stated that in the existing situation as the land-related matters in Goa are different, auctioning might result in the delay. Sawant assured that everyone will be taken into consideration as the government intends to restart mining this season.
“In case something is not possible in Supreme Court, as per MMDR Act 2015 we can form a Corporation. We will not hesitate to form a Corporation in the interest of the people,” he reiterated.
“We will also ask permission from the Supreme Court on the finalisation of dump policy,” he added.
On the issue of Mhadei dispute, the CM conceded that Karnataka has diverted some amount of Mhadei while assuring that Goa will not leave any stone unturned to protect Goa’s interest. “We have to admit that some water is diverted (by Karnataka),” the CM said.
Sawant added that Union Minister Prakash Javdekar’s letter to Karnataka has not legal standing considering that the matter challenging Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal’s order is pending in the Supreme Court. “We have challenged Tribunal’s order in the Supreme Court. We will not compromise a bit to protect Goa’s interest,” he said.
