SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: History seems to repeat itself in Goa. Within a span of five years, the mining industry has been dealt another major jolt by the Supreme Court in form of a ban on operations. The stoppage in operations, as foreseen by the authorities and the mining industry player, is expected to last nothing less than three years.
The Supreme Court, while directing the lease holders to stop all mining operations with effect from March 16, 2018, has also asked the State government and the (MoEF) to start a fresh process of granting lease renewals and environmental clearances (ECs) – which is a lengthy process.
“Based on the judgment at the moment, what I can say is that it will take nothing less than three years for the mining industry to resume full fledged. The process of granting fresh renewals and ECs are not easy, it involves various stages including a public hearing,” a senior official said. The government has to first decide on the method of granting leases. As per the current scenario, the auction mode may attract few bidders, as the market for low grade ore is restricted and the 20 million tonnes production cap fixed by the Apex Court will give firms a limited quantity of ore to deal with. Further, the auction also depends upon the Supreme Court verdict in the petition challenging Goa Abolition Act 1987.
“Supreme Court itself today said there is no constitutional requirement for allocation of natural resources through the auction method other than spectrum,” official said.
Further, granting of fresh lease involves a fresh EC for each individual applicant. Granting of EC for red category industry attracts an EIA notification, wherein the environment impact assessment study has to be conducted and for that purpose a public hearing has to be held.
“Public hearing for individual mines is not an easy task. You see thousands of people attending. Then the report has to be prepared and EIA has to be placed before the MoEF Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for approval,” official said. EAC, once satisfied will then recommend to MoEF for grant of EC, the official added.Moreover if the grant of EC is then challenged in court, this could led to a further delay of a year in each case where the EC is challenged
Mine owner Harish Melvani expressed a similar view stating, “Resumption of mining activities will not be immediate in the State in the wake of this order. It is a very valid judgment. The 88 mining leases were very hastily renewed by the government without proper policy backing and hence it was liable to be challenged.” The mine owner said private players/lease holders and government need to explore and tap other mineral resources available in the State. “There is no future left for iron ore mining industry. Hence the Union Government is also stressing upon exploration of other minerals. Goa also needs to tap that,” Melvani said.
