PANJIM: In complete contradiction to the demand by Opposition Leader Pratapsing Rane and party legislators for resumption of mining operations, the Congress on Saturday, while insisting on a clear cut policy for allocation of mining leases, demanded that government should challenge the High Court order on executing lease deeds of those 27 mines, which have paid stamp duty, before Supreme Court.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), while demanding auctioning of mining leases, alleged that BJP-government decision to grant mining leases to 27 mines is against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy of auction of natural resources. “Manohar Parrikar-led government has defied Modi’s policy on natural resources,” GPCC spokesperson Durgadas Kamat told media persons.
The demand completely contradicts the stand of Congress Legislative Party (CLP), which during the recently concluded Assembly session unanimously urged government to resume mining activities by granting mining leases to the 27 mines as directed by High Court. While former chief minister Digamber Kamat had appealed to the government to renew the leases as done by Odisha government, Leader of Opposition had raised fear that if mining does not resume by year-end, the State might witness suicides in the mining areas.
“I have nothing to comment…that may be his personal opinion…Congress party wants auction of mining leases and a clear policy on mining,” Kamat said when asked about CLP stand in the House. He said that party demands that the High Court order on mining leases be challenged before the Supreme Court, considering the fact that the government through affidavit had told Court that it cannot renew mining leases.
Government had in the past too said that mining leases would be granted in consultation with the Union government policy on mining, Kamat added. “Mining cannot be allowed at the cost of the environment,” he said raising doubts over government announcement that mining will resume by October
