In an 11-page order issued Saturday evening, Mines Department also reserved the right to cap iron ore production of each mining lease irrespective of environment clearance (EC) limit specified by the MoEF.
The directorate has also maintained that it has all the powers to initiate action against the mining lease, if it is found in any kind of violations post renewal.
The Mines Directorate, in its order dated October 5, had said that 13 mining leases which had paid the stamp duty for renewal could get their leases renewed.
Sources at the Secretariat confirmed that the government has granted the lessees six months to acquire all the necessary clearances, with ECs being a priority, after which the lease agreement would be signed. As per law, government can sign the lease agreement within six months from the time of issue of lease renewal order, sources said.
“This will also be followed by lifting the temporary mining suspension imposed by the government with regards to these leases,” sources said.
The 13 mining leases include – V M Salgaocar & Bro Pvt Ltd (four leases), Sociedade Timblo Irmaos Limitada (two leases), Chowgule & Co Pvt Ltd, Sesa Goa Ltd, Lithoferro, Geetabala Manohar Naik Parulekar, Rajaram Bandekar Pvt Ltd, Kunda Gharse and G N Agarwal.
MoEF had in October 2012 suspended all the ECs, after mining was suspended by the State government.
“The lease renewal order is a document, for the lessees to produce before the competent authorities while applying for clearances. This order will help in obtaining ECs from the MoEF,” sources said.
Apart from ECs, the lease holders require permissions from the Indian Bureau of Mines and Consent to operate under Air and Water Act from the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
