PANJIM: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided to seek the state government’s view to authenticate the “legality” of 17 iron ore mining leases, which were renewed on January 12 this year, the same day on which the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation (MMDR) Act 1957 was amended by an ordinance, paving the way for auction of all leases that were pending renewals.
The board will also write to the 17 lease holders, asking for their ‘say’ on the issue.
The leases are amongst the 72 renewed leases which have applied for Consent to Operate under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts.
The decision has been taken following a complaint from Goa Foundation, which had approached the Supreme Court over the issue of illegal mining in the state, asking GSPCB to scrutinize mining lease documents before granting consent.
“Out of these 61 leases, which have been granted environment clearance (ECs) by MoEF, the second renewal of 17 had been approved on January 12 this year. The MMDR Act was also amended by an ordinance on the same day. The amended Act does not have a provision for renewal of mining leases. The renewal of these leases is, therefore, extremely doubtful. Hence, I would request the board (GSPCB) to look into this matter carefully, as it is required to grant consent only to those in possession of a valid mining leases,” Goa Foundation Director Claude Alvares said in his letter.
GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha said, “The complainant claims that the leases renewed on January 12 are not valid as they have to be auctioned as per new MMDR amendment. We will be writing to the government to take a final decision on the matter before we grant consent to operate.”
Noronha said that the ‘lease holders will be also given a chance to give their say in the matter’.
Herald in its May 8 edition had exposed that 31 leases, of which 11 belonged to Sesa Resources Limited, were renewed on January 12.
