SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: It’s been three months since the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of iron ore mining activities in the State from March 16, however, the BJP-led coalition government is yet take a call on the way forward for the sector, which used to be livelihood of over two lakh people.
There is also no clarity on whether the Government will challenge the latest High Court order that set aside transportation of ore lying outside the lease bound areas.
It is learnt that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is currently undergoing treatment in USA, is yet to give his view on whether the State should file a review petition in the Supreme Court, after senior Counsel Adv Harish Salve, who was consulted by the government for a legal opinion, has given negative comments on this.
“We are still in the process of examining the issue. Before going for a detailed review petition, we have to also consider the latest High Court order on transportation. We need to make that also as part of the petition. Everything is under examination,” Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma told Herald.
The Supreme Court, in its judgment dated February 7, quashed and set aside second renewals granted to 88 mining leases while directing them to stop operations after March 15. Further, while the Apex Court allowed transportation of ore lying at jetties, the High Court struck down the government order allowing ore, lying outside the lease area and on which royalty was already paid, to be transported.
The government seriousness towards the contentious matter can be measured by the fact that it took more than a month for the State to take a call to file a review petition in the Apex Court – which is still in limbo.
The three-member Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC)
has also not met for the last two weeks and hence there has been no discussion on the mining issue post the Salve advice and also after the High Court judgment. “We are just an advisory committee. We meet only when there is some agenda put up by the Chief Secretary,” CAC member and Minister Francis D’Souza said, admitting that Salve’s comments have not been placed before the committee till date.
Further, CAC member and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai had impressed upon the government the need to urge the Centre to issue an Ordinance for the immediate resumption of mining activities. However, no steps have been taken in that direction, even as the CAC is ready to consider and recommend the same to the Chief Minister.
The ordinance that is being considered is to amend the Goa Daman and Diu Mining Concession (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987, giving life to the leases till 2037.
