Team Herald
PANJIM: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has ruled out granting environment clearances (ECs) for lease execution to iron ore mines whose mineral concession applications are pending before the government. There are three such applications pending before the Goa government.
In July, the Union Mines Ministry had informed all State Mines Secretaries that as per the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation (MMDR) Amendment 2015, all applications for grant of mineral concessions became ineligible on January 12, 2015 except those saved under Section 10A (2) and hence had directed that applications be scrutinised and sent for approvals.
However, in a special meeting called on September 20, MoEF ruled out the prospect of granting any sort of general or conditional or provisional EC for facilitating lease execution in such cases under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act (EPA). Pending before the Goa government are three such proposals – Dahej Minerals, Gomantak Investment Pvt Ltd and Zafar & Sons. Dahej Minerals and Gomantak Investment Pvt Ltd have their matters involved in legal battles.
“The complications arising from the possibility of mutation of forest land by the lessee in his favour, would entail that the lessee is free to utilize the land which is falling under the limitations of forest for non-forest activities and the very purpose of need for forest clearance would stand defeated,” D K Sinha, IG Forest MoEF, said during the meeting.
At the same time, in cases wherein conditional ECs were granted in the past, the ministry has decided to seek legal opinion on whether the State can allow lease execution.
