Team Herald
PANJIM: The crucial Goa mining case, wherein the State government has sought extension of iron ore leases till 2027, is listed for hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday.
The Apex Court has tagged Government’s review petition, challenging its order dated February 7, 2018 to quash second renewals granted to 88 mining leases, with the special leave petition (SLP) filed by the mining companies seeking to extend the life of their leases.
Speaking to media persons on Sunday, the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that the SLP along with the review petition is listed for hearing on Monday and that they are hopeful that the matter would be heard.
“I have already had meeting with the Advocate General, Senior Counsel, Director Mines, on the case. We are hopeful that the matter will be heard tomorrow,” Sawant said.
He said the good thing is that government’s review petition is tagged with SLP filed by the mining companies. “We have sought extension of leases till 2027. With some positive outcome in next two-three hearings, if Supreme Court permits, mining can go on smoothly for next seven years,” he said.
The mining companies had filed SLP in the Supreme Court challenging the Goa, Daman and Diu (Abolition and Declaration of Mining Leases) Act, 1987.
The State Government so as the mining companies are banking on the Supreme Court outcome, as the Centre has been pressing for auctioning of mining leases to resume the iron ore activities in the State, which are shut since mid-March 2018.
Meanwhile, Goa’s tribal communities under ‘GAKUVED Federation’ has filed an intervention application before the Supreme Court pleading to dismiss the SLP filed by the mining firms.
Praying that they be allowed to intervene in the matter, the GAKUVED has urged the Court that a fresh environmental clearance (EC) be made mandatory before granting any further permissions for iron ore activities in the State.
