TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Over 3.89 lakh metric tons of iron ore belonging to late Vaikunth Kadnekar, whose lease was canceled for being involved in illegal mining, would be e-auctioned in the second phase on March 5. A total 15.53 lakh metric tons of stacked ore lying at jetties, leases and MPT is due to be e-auctioned.
Kadnekar’s heirs are among 40 lease holders, whose delay in filing the ‘J Form’ was condoned by the previous Congress government. By declaring the mining lease operations as ‘illegal’, Mines department canceled the lease in October 2013. The mining lease is currently transferred to the state government.
Mines department in its second e-auction lot, declared last week, has put approximately 3,89,041 metric tons of ore lying at Bategal mine at Maina and Chunimolo Mines at Rivona owned by Kadnekar, for auction. The grade of the ore varies from 43 Fe to 57.5 Fe.
The legal heirs of Kadnekar mines are currently being investigated by SIT Crime Branch. Govt had recovered nearly Rs 180 crore from the lease holder for carrying out illegal mining. The illegality of the mine was exposed in the PAC report.
As per the department, all activities, including mining operations, undertaken by Kadnekar’s legal representatives become illegal, considering the fact that ‘no power is vested in the State government to condone the delay. Such condonation by the then mines minister, purportedly acting on behalf of government, is without authority of law and is illegal in terms of Section 19 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act (MMDR), 1957.
Apart from Kadnekar, there are 13 more mining companies, whose ore lying at jetties, leases and MPT is due to be e-auctioned. In the first phase 5.36 lakh metric tons of ore was e-auctioned earlier this month.
