PANJIM: Hours after the Supreme Court dismissed the review petition on mining, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant announced that iron ore mining activities would recommence through the proposed State-run Goa Mining Corporation and the bill to this effect would be introduced during the monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly, starting from July 28.
Addressing media persons, Sawant said all 88 mining leases, whose renewals have been set aside by the Apex Court, would be taken up for auction through the Corporation. “Of the mines available, some would be auctioned while some would be run by the State through the Corporation,” he explained.
The Chief Minister said the government “honours” the verdict of the Supreme Court that dismissed the petition on grounds of delay in filing it. “The verdict was passed in February 2018 and I took over the charge as CM in March 2019. When I was studying the matter, I realised that filing a review petition would be the only option and accordingly we did it,” he said.
“I have sincerely put in all my efforts to resume mining activities, whether through legislative cure or legal way. And my efforts will continue till mining corporation is put in place and justice is delivered to all those who are dependent on mining activities,” he added.
Sawant said once the Bill is passed, the process will be expedited to draft the necessary rules and notify it.
Sawant in his Budget 2021-22 announced the setting up of the Goa Mining Corporation. The government, which had set a target of May 31, to make the corporation functional, failed to do so following clarification sought by the Law Department on the draft Bill. The draft has been vetted by the Law Department now.
The Chief Minister said the government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) to assess mineral resources in Goa by conducting geo-specific exploration and to establish the mineral bank.
“The report by MECL will help the State to start the process of e-auction of leases. MECL will study all the leases and accordingly submit the report, which will help us decide on auction,” he said, adding that MECL is likely to start their work from next week.
Responding to a question, Sawant said irrespective of the pending matter in the Supreme Court related to challenging the Goa Abolition Act, mining activities will resume through the Corporation.
In reply to another question, Sawant blamed former CM Digambar Kamat for the current mining fiasco. “Before blaming my government, the Opposition needs to answer as why their CM did not renew the leases in 2007. If the leases had to be renewed in 2007, the mining activities would have continued smoothly till 2037,” he said.
The Chief Minister charged that failure to act in the “interest of the State” by the then Congress government led to current crisis in mining industry.
