PANJIM: After a delay, the Supreme Court is likely to hear final arguments on the two Writ Petitions (WP) and Special Leave Petitions (SLP), challenging the second renewals of 88 iron ore mining leases in the State on April 11.
The leases were renewed under section 8(3) of the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation (MMDR) Act 1957. NGO Goa Foundation and activist Sudip Tamankar had challenged the renewal of these leases.
The State in its affidavit filed before the Apex Court in December last year, had defended its renewal process taking the Supreme Court’s final judgment in the illegal mining case dated April 21, 2014, stating that the court had allowed the ‘state to decide as a matter of policy in what manner mining leases are to be granted in future’.
The State had castigated Goa Foundation for working with a different agenda and ulterior motive to stall the economy and progress of Goa in the name of illegality. However, Goa Foundation had countered this accusing the State of adopting a “care-a-damn” approach towards public resources.
It had slammed the State for losing out Rs 2 lakh crore in revenue owing to its failure to auction the leases.
