Team Herald
PANJIM: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that the Government of India was hopeful of a positive support from the Supreme Court on resumption of mining activity.
When asked whether the government has taken any measures to restart mining activity in the State, Gadkari said that the matter was before the Supreme Court and that it would not be proper to comment on it since it was sub-judice.
Gadkari said that since the closure of mining operations, then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar, Union Minister Shripad Naik and current Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant had made a lot of attempts to restart mining.
“Goa’s economy is related to the iron ore industry. Government is sympathetic on the issue and has always made efforts but the Supreme Court is supreme. Presentation will have to be made and a way will have to be found,” he said.
He made it clear that without permission from the Supreme Court, neither the State government has the power to take decision nor the Central government. It is up to the Supreme Court after presentation of the case. We are expecting positive support,” he said.
All mining operations in the State were stopped from March 15, 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed second renewal of 88 mining leases in February 2018.
Following the Apex Court directives, the State government had recently passed the Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill 2021, which enables creation of a State-owned mineral corporation to revive mining operations.
