PANJIM: Goa Lokayukta P K Misra has pulled up former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar for granting lease renewals ‘contrary’ to the policy decision of the government, approved by the Cabinet, in 2014.
The decision was with reference to those leases that were under question for violation of Rule 37 and Rule 38 of Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, as indicted by Justice M B Shah Commission.
“The cabinet decision was only with regards to renewal of mining leases. The Cabinet decision was never laid down that all the leases, irrespective of serious violations of many relevant provisions, would be renewed without following the mandatory provisions of law,” Misra said in the order issued on January 20, with regards to illegal grant of lease renewals to 88 mines.
“Many of the renewals have been effected contrary to the policy decision of the government, which was approved by the cabinet and thereafter published in newspapers and the website of the government during November 2014,” Misra added.
The Lokayukta said that such policy decision clearly contemplated that lease holders who had violated Rule 37 and those who were guilty of storing of minerals outside the leasehold area shall not be considered for renewals.
“It is apparent that the leases of some of the leaseholders, against whom the proceedings were pending under Rules 37 or Special Investigating Team (SIT) investigation for violation of many of the ancillary laws, were pending, were renewed without waiting for the conclusions of such inquired relating to the alleged violations,” Misra said.
“The respondents acted in great hurry to pass orders relating to renewal of leases even without complying with the statutory requirements and without waiting till the completion of inquires relating to serious violations of Rule 37 or Rule 38 or other similar violations,” he added.
