Panaji | Oct 28, 2016: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), on Thursday, issued notices to 12 mining lease holders (holding 24 mining leases), based on an application challenging their operations.

Green NGO, Goa Foundation, along with Shankar Jog, in an application filed before the NGT, raised a query whether the 12 mining lease holders can commence or continue mining operations without a valid environment clearance, in view of the apex court’s July 2017 judgement.

The applicants pointed out that the clearances are not valid beyond the period of two years granted under the said clearance. The validity of the clearance beyond the original 2-year validity period has been set aside by the Supreme Court of India

In the said judgement, the Supreme Court had set aside the environment clearance issued to the lease holder (M/s. Talaulikar & Sons Pvt Ltd), on grounds that the procedures laid down under the 1994 EIA notification had not been complied with. It is contented by the applicants, that, factually, the 12 lease holders named as respondents, find themselves in a similar situation.

“In view of the order, the lease holders do not have a valid EC. Hence, no mining can resume on these leases without once again following the procedure established by law reiterated by the Supreme Court," the applicants said.

The applicant alleged that the mining carried out on the said leases is illegal. In any event, the respondents cannot mine in the ensuing season without a valid environment clearance, stated the applicants.

The applicants claimed that the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, must initiate the same procedures in the cases of these respondents

“Yet, the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, doesn’t appear to take any steps in this direction,” the applicant alleged.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)