TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Irrespective of Supreme Court decision over resumption of mining in Goa, the State government will terminate and close down 40 mining leases, whose delay in filing the ‘J Form’ was condoned by the erstwhile Congress government, Goa’s Mining Policy 2013, which was notified on Monday, states. “Leases granted in violation of law/ rules including by condonation of delay without any power to do so, to be terminated and closed,” the policy document reads.
Forty mining lease holders include mining majors such as Sociedade Timblo Irmaos Ltd, NCP leader Prafulla Hede and Congressman turned MGP politician Dinar Tarcar. Former Congress Chief Ministers Digmabar Kamat and Pratapsing Rane were named by the Justice M B Shah Commission and public accounts committee (PAC).
All the mines were issued show cause notices last year.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology recently declared that the renewal of a lease by condoning delay in filing application for renewal is illegal. The declaration comes in the case of a mining lease allotted to late Vaikunth Kadnekar.
Further, the policy also makes it clear that no mines would be allowed to start operation based on deemed extension.
All the 118 working mining leases are operational under deemed provision as no second renewals of the mines were undertaken after the first renewal lapsed in 2007. Government has recently cleared only 28 mines for signing of second renewal, which can start operations if Supreme Court lifts its ban and if the environment clearances are granted by Ministry of Environment and Forest.
The balance 90 leases will have to apply fresh and the applications would be decided within next four months provided all clearances are in place. Till such time, they will not be allowed to operate, even in the event of the Supreme Court allowing resumption of mining operations.
The policy has already made it clear that no fresh extraction of iron ore would be allowed in the State till NEERI submits its report recommending optimal level of fresh ore extraction that can be undertaken in the State from existing mines. The ore which is already extracted and stacked would be allowed to be shipped.
