TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The State government on Friday cancelled 133 mining leases for failing to apply for the first renewal of the lease and for not being in operation any time between November 1987 and 2007. The government on September 30 had cancelled 119 mining leases that had not been renewed.
The notification issued by Mines and Geology Director Prasanna Acharya said that 112 mining leases were not operational from November 22, 1987 to November 22, 2007 and hence the leases have been ‘declared to have lapsed with effect from November 22, 2007’. Another 21 lease owners failed to apply for the first renewal on or before November 22, 1988 and they stand ‘lapsed with effect from November 22, 1988’.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology on October 19 had issued notices to around 250 mining lease owners over renewal of the leases under the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation (MMRD) Act 1957. Of the total 250, 193 mines were not operational between 1988-2007, while 57 mines failed to apply for first renewal on or before 1988.
The leaseholders or their legal representatives were asked to submit the details about the lease within next 14 days failing which the leases would be declared to have been lapsed. However, 133 lease holders did not respond to the notice.
“And whereas the non-submission of any reply/written submissions in response to the notice confirms that the concessioners/lease holders do not have anything to say. As such the above mentioned concessions/deemed leases are hereby declared to have been lapsed,” the notification reads.
The leases are spread over Pernem, Sattari, Ponda, Dharbandora, Sanguem, Bicholim, Tiswadi and Quepem talukas. Of the leases cancelled, 64 are in Sanguem, 22 in Dharbandora, 14 in Sattari, 10 in Bicholim, seven in Ponda, six in Quepem, two each in Tiswadi and Pernem and one in Salcete.
The list highlights names of major mining companies such as Sesa Goa, V M Salgaoncar, Sociedade Timblo, Damodar Mangalji, Shantilal Kushaldas and S Kantilal & Co Pvt Ltd.
