PANJIM | Feb 03, 2015: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has turned down Goa government’s proposal to revoke the suspension on the Environment Clearances (ECs), stating that it would grant fresh ECs to the renewed mining leases, on a case to case basis. The Ministry has also clarified that the ECs would be granted after studying the six-member capping committee report which would be submitted to the Supreme Court in April.

Granting of fresh ECs will mean that a fresh Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report would be drafted following which the mining companies will have to face the public hearing before ECs can be granted. This comes as a major blow to the State government as well as to the mining players, who had been looking forward to the immediate resumption of mining operations, following the State government lifting the temporary suspension imposed on all the iron ore mining operations and related activities on January 15, 2015. Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had even publicly said that the mining leases will not require fresh ECs.

A senior official confirmed about the communication received by the State Government, from the MoEF, stating that it cannot revoke the suspension of ECs but will consider granting fresh ECs to the mining leases that are being renewed by the Goa government.

“Ministry has made it clear that as per law, it cannot lift or revoke the suspension. It will have to consider renewed mining leases for fresh ECs,” the official said. The communication is in response to the Government letter, wherein Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had urged MoEF to immediately withdraw the suspension on ECs. Official said that the decision has been taken following recommendation from the EAC.

The Ministry has also decided to study the report of the expert committee headed by ecologist Dr C R Babu, on the quantum of the annual capping of iron ore extraction for the State, before granting any production limit in the ECs. The committee has to submit its report on or before April 21, 2015.

Government has renewed 88 mining lease under section 8(3) of Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act. Of these, lease deed agreements in case of 42 renewed mining leases have been signed.

The Ministry had on September 12, 2012 suspended the ECs of 139 mines in the State and later constituted the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) to examine the documents submitted by the companies. MoEF had directed owners of the 139 mines to forward documents under which the mines have been operating for verification of their legality.

(Source: http://www.heraldgoa.in/)

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