The MLA of Sanvordem Ganesh Gaonkar, in a fit of rare pragmatism had called Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and advised him against going for the reopening of the Codli mines of the Vedanta owned Sesa Goa, billed as the “resumption of iron ore mining in the state after a gap of 3 years”.
The Chief Minister, it is reliably learnt, shot back and said that he wanted to show that mining was resumed “in my tenure”. He thus pushed ahead, supporting Sesa Goa’s over ambitious (some call it desperate) move to placate its impatient work force and allied service providers, and declaring “mining resumption”. This is not just misleading and yes, even a sham, but the real fallout is far more serious than this. It gives a false sense of belief and hope to the truck driver, the tea stall owner, the operator, the barge operator, the cleaner and all those who laughed their way to their banks, when the wheels of the mining sector rolled, that the happy days are here again. And Chief Minister Parsekar, did more than his fair bit to mislead when he went for the grand “reopening ceremony of the Codli mine”, and said, “The government will do all that can be done to support everyone who is affected by the mining ban. We can say now that Achchhe Din Aa Gaye Hain.”
Now either Mr Parsekar isn’t too sure of the longevity of his own tenure as CM which is officially till 2017, that he batted for Vedanta, to show his masters in Delhi that he did better than Manohar Parrikar and restarted mining. Or is this another brazen way of scoffing at his own Accountant General (not to speak of other legal challenges which are definitely forthcoming) who has asked how could 25 mining leases have been renewed (A per Herald’s perusal of the records with the Directorate of Mines, there were 31 leases renewed on January 12), the day the Mines and Minerals, Development Regulation Act 2015 was notified which restricted the life of non-renewed leases only till 2020. This government, knowing that this Ordinance was about to be notified, renewed leases in a hurry; with 31 being renewed on the day the ordinance came, to give them a life till 2026. Many of Vedanta’s leases were a part of this list. Importantly on the day the Ordinance came into effect, no renewal clause was available. Thus, each of these renewals are evidently fraudulent.
At the same time close to 100% of the leases do not have the mandatory approvals from the Indian Bureau of Mines for second renewals under Section 8(3) of the MMDR Act and have clearances only for renewals which pre-date the Supreme Court judgement of April 2014, which makes it mandatory for each lease to get a clearance of the IBM giving reasons for why renewing a particular mining lease, under Section 8 (3) was in the “interest of mineral development.
The Accountant General of Goa has sought important explanations from the Goa government on each of the above. Therefore the Chief Minister’s exhortation to all mine owners to restart mining as soon as possible, when the template laid down by the Supreme Court, including the decision to renew the leases themselves has been violated or challenged is disappointing, if one needs to charitable. But one doesn’t need to be. Hence the act should be called shameful.
Look at the Chief Minister’s statement at the Codli mines: “We have done all what we could to restart mining and will continue to do whatever is required. I had given a date of October to restart mining and Vedanta has surprised me by reopening two months earlier. I appreciate this early restart by Vedanta. I also appeal to all other miners to emulate Vedanta and restart as soon as they can.”
There could never have been a more misleading statement. August is the time when the monsoons are at its peak. It will get more intense. Mining activity, through the ages, is completely shut at this time. No mining can take place unless all the ore that needs to be auctioned is cleared not to speak of the ore dumped outside the mining leases. By equating the opening of a mine (which is a private activity) to the resumption of mining operations is a travesty of the truth. For the Chief Minister of the State to endorse this is nothing but political opportunism which has no connection with a clear, legal, above board resumption of mining activity.
Even if Vedanta argues that it has all the permissions required to restart mining, which it may well have, this doesn’t tantamount to resumption. And by inviting thousands of people to witnesses the breaking of coconuts to signal “the resumption of mining”, Chief Minister Parsekar, along with other mining belt MLAs are making a crass attempt to protect themselves from the anger of their constituents who have been swayed for long, by promises of mining resumption.
This will fool no one. And Ache din is many many troublesome nights away.
