PANJIM: Stating that he would not challenge the recent High Court decision on mining leases, the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said that he would “consider” executing lease deeds of those 28 mining leases, whose lessees had paid stamp duty.
He, however, clarified that it would be within the framework of the still to be formulated mining policy. “They (lessees) trusted the government when no one else did it,” he argued. Parrikar also announced that iron ore mining in the State would resume by the end of the year.
“I don’t need to challenge the High Court judgment as it clearly says that the lease deeds can be executed subject to the conditions lay down by the Apex Court in the write petition (illegal mining),” Parrikar told Herald. “We would consider them,” the chief minister said when asked whether first preference would be given to these 28 leases while renewing them.
“These 28 of them paid me money, from which government generated revenue of Rs 435 crore. They trusted government when no one else did it. I manage to pay salaries from this amount. Hence, we would consider them within the framework of our mining policy. This would be discussed in detail on Monday, next week,” Parrikar said, speaking on the sidelines of Independence Day reception hosted by Governor Om Prakash Kohli at Raj Bhavan.
Chief Minister, however, said that these lessees would be asked to pay fines or make some payments. The High Court had on Wednesday directed government to execute the lease deeds of these 28 mining leases under Mines and Minerals Development Regulation (MMDR) Act and gave it three months to decide on the renewal applications of all other mining leases.
Earlier, the chief minister also said that the government would complete all formalities relating to mining by October, while addressing the gathering after hoisting national flag to mark the Independence Day. He also said that by the end of this year mining activity would resume in the State.
“State government has already started the process to resume mining activity in the State. Mining has been an important issue before the government. The mining will start before this year end,” Parrikar said.
