The lease has also been renewed by the State government under the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation (MMDR) Act.
This mining lease was castigated for illegal operation by the Justice M B Shah Commission and Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in its inquiry report on illegal mining in Goa.
The suspension of ECs has been lifted for the mining lease which was granted under environment impact assessment (EIA) notification 1994.
Mining magnate Radha Timblo, accused of stashing black money in a Swiss bank, was indicted by Shah Commission in 2012, for illegally operating a mining lease with a questionable power of attorney executed by a Pakistani national, which is a violation of the Mining Concession Rules, 1960.
“The ownership and control of the said lease by the Timblo family (through its firm Timblo Pvt Ltd) was justified by them by producing before the State government another power of attorney dated November 5, 1997 stated to have been executed by Mavani in favour of Radha S Timblo. In the power of attorney, it is mentioned that Mavani is staying in Karachi, Pakistan,” the CEC report had said, adding that the power of attorney was neither notarized, nor countersigned by witnesses.
The judicial inquiry commission had recommended investigation by central investigating agencies under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Money Laundering Act against the mine owner.
