Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said there is no need to panic as the Supreme Court judgment, quashing second renewal of mining leases, does not come into action immediately.
Declining to comment on the judgment in detail, as he is yet to go through the order, Parrikar said he will seek legal opinion on the matter before announcing the government’s line of action.
“At this moment, according to my information, nothing is applicable until March 15. So we have more than a month to decide upon it,” Parrikar, who also holds the Mines portfolio, told media persons.
He said he would not like to comment on the implications unless he goes through the judgment in detail along with the legal team.
“In the judgment, I understand, that the Court has also said that auction need not be the only route (for granting mining leases). That means there are different possibilities which are open. The order does not come into effect from tomorrow so there is no need to panic,” the Chief Minister said.
Parrikar said the State will decide its stand after speaking to its legal advisors and issue a clear written statement on the issue in the next two-three days.
Mining activities in Goa will come to halt from March 16. This is second instance in the last five years, when the mining industry has faced a major jolt. In October 2012, the Apex Court had banned mining activities in the State, which was later lifted in April 2014.
