Suspension order to be withdrawn for around 24-30 leases; 118 leases to be cancelled
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Around 24 to 30 mining leases would be considered for exemption from among the mines whose licences had been suspended by the State government in September last year, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced on Tuesday. The Government has also decided to cancel 118 mining leases.
Parrikar, who is also Minister for Mines, said that the suspension order issued against mining leases would be withdrawn in a phased manner on a case to case basis and that all those leases whose documentation had been verified and found to be clear, would be given green signal.
“Government suspension was basically for identification of irregularities and verification of documents. The process is complete,” he said.
Chief Minister explained that there are 90 to 92 working mining leases of which 12 leases may face direct suspension as they fall under the criteria of condonation of delay. He said that out of the balance 80 mining leases, several may not get environment clearance due to various issues such as their proximity to the wildlife sanctuaries or the National Park.
“Around 50 mines would be operational in the State once the suspension is lifted completely,” he said adding ‘in the first phase 24 to 30 mining leases would be exempted, and the order would be issued within this month.”
“Prima facie they are not under cloud, but if there are any minor irregularities found in these mining leases later on, we can still act,” Parrikar said.
Chief Minister clarified that although State government has decided to withdraw the suspension order, the mines would be able to start only after Supreme Court lifts the ban and Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) gives the EC for the mining leases.
While suspending the mining operation, Government had constituted a committee headed by Principal Secretary (Mines) to verify the documents of the lease holders, which include mining plan, royalty challans, MoEF clearance, clearance from Union Mines Ministry and Indian Bureau of Mines, export and import figures, etc.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology had also conducted a digital survey of all the mining leases to identify its distance from the wildlife sanctuaries and national park.
Meanwhile, Parrikar also said that government has decided to cancel 118 mining leases which were dead and no applications were filed for their renewal. He said that the lease holder failed to apply under ‘J’ form.
“In case of 42 leases whose delay in filing the ‘J Form’ was condoned by the former Congress government, Department will take action on case to case basis. They have been heard,” he said.
SIT to probe economic offences
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by senior superintendent of police (SSP) KK Vyas has been formed to investigate the economic offences related to illegal mining.
“A SIT under senior superintendent of police has been formed which will investigate the criminal angle of the illegal mining case, while the corruption would be probed by Anti-Corruption Bureau,” the chief minister said.
Parrikar said that the Directorate of Mines and Geology is examining the illegal mining scam in depth and would be filing the individual cases before the SIT.
“Individual cases related to economic offences would be handed over to SIT,” he said adding government has already filed a case related to civil liabilities before the Goa Lokayukta.
The BJP had in the past, petitioned former President of India Pratibha Patil demanding formation of SIT to probe the mining scam, identified by State Assembly’s public accounts committee headed by then Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar.
Khandeparkar panel to wind up
PANJIM: In the backdrop of two different complaints filed before the Goa Lokayukta and Crime Branch in connection with the illegal mining scam, the State government has now decided to wind up the High Level Investigation Committee headed by Justice (retd) RMS Khandeparkar.
“Government is considering winding up Khandeparkar committee. The proposal would be put before the State Cabinet next Wednesday,” Parrikar said on Tuesday.
Parrikar said that the official order with regards to the Khandeparkar committee would be issued by next week, soon after the Cabinet meeting.
The six-member Khandeparkar committee was constituted to verify the irregularities and illegalities pointed out by Shah Commission in its exhaustive report, in the mining scam, which held all mining in Goa to be blatantly “illegal”.
