TEAM HERALD
PANJIM/NEW DELHI: As mining stakeholders hold their breadth in
anticipation of the Supreme Court judgement, which is likely to be
delivered Monday, after about 19 months of the mining ban in Goa,
indications are that conditions are likely to be relaxed by the
Apex Court.
The court has already allowed e-auction of the ore stocked at the
MPT and jetties around the state and thus far two rounds of
auction have already been held. However, mining operations could
resume only after the monsoon, in September, even if all
conditions are met. Generally monsoons reach Goan shores by first
week of June.
The Green Bench of Justices A K Patnaik, Surinder Singh Nijjar and
Fakir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla, which reserved its ruling on the
Goa Foundation’s 2012 petition on March 27, has fixed Monday for
its judgment at 2 pm. It is rushing with the judgment as the first
two judges are due for retirement on June 2 and May 14
respectively.
However, though investigations have been conducted into the
illegal mining by CAG, PAC headed by then Opposition leader and
the present chief minister and the M B Shah commission of inquiry,
till date there seems to be not much progress on either the
quantum of the loss or its recovery.
The Shah Commission had pointed fingers to former chief ministers
and top business houses. However, till date the discreet
investigation does not appear to be anywhere near to exposing the
entire conspiracy behind illegal mining.
