PANJIM: The Supreme Court on Friday further adjourned the matter challenging renewal of 88 iron ore mining leases to November 17, as the Justice J S Khehar said that matter requires serious consideration.
A bench comprising of Justices J S Khehar and Banumati, suggested that since the matter would take some time and required consideration, it would put on “top of the board” so that the petitions could be heard properly.
The two writ petitions filed by Goa Foundation and activist Sudip Tamankar has challenged the state government’s renewal of 88 mining leases and revoking the suspension of environmental clearances (ECs) given to 72 mining leases which were kept in abeyance. The NGO has also demanded a CBI probe into the lack of action by the state vigilance department into irregularities that resulted into loss of over Rs 80,000 crore to state exchequers.
The petitioners had also sought interim stay on the operation of mining leases based on the Consent to Operate granted by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
The Writ petition was filed in October last month.
The Central government, earlier this month, pulled up State over renewal of 88 mining leases and sought details about the procedures laid down for the renewals.
