Team Herald
PANJIM: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) was asked to examine the allegations of the Shah Committee and to file a report with the Supreme Court.
The Central Empowered Committee filed its interim report on December 7, 2012. It reported:
“The mining operations in Goa have violated with impunity the relevant Acts, Rules and Regulations and orders of this Hon’ble Court.” “A very large number of mining leases were being operated by persons other than the lessees and in flagrant violation of the provisions of the MCR, 1960 and in all probability with the tacit approval of the State Government. Based on the unregistered and dubious General Power of Attorneys and other documents, the mining leases have been allowed to be operated by persons having clout by treating the leases granted to individual persons as those granted to partnership firms and the inclusion of such persons as partners in the firms (and retirement of the genuine lease holders).”
Besides, the judgment indicated the extent of illegalities and irregularities in the mining landscape:
– All mining after 22nd November 2007 was declared illegal. Mining finally stopped on the 10th September 2012, nearly 5 years later.
– Dumps outside mining lease areas were declared illegal
– The State was directed to initiate action against violations of Rule 37 (Raising contracts, transfer of leases) and Rule 38 (Amalgamation of leases).
