Panaji | Feb 07, 2015: The Goa government will auction all mining leases in the state on the expiry of their lease period in 2027, said mines secretary Pawan Kumar Sain on Friday.
Mines director Prasanna Acharya added that this would be subject to the Supreme Court order in the special leave petition (SLP) filed by leaseholders challenging the Union government's 1987 decision to abolish mining concessions given by the erstwhile Portuguese regime and turn the same into leases. The SLP is pending before a constitutional bench.
Speaking to mediapersons after the workshop on the central government's recently-promulgated Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Ordinance, 2015, Sain said once the lease period expires the leases have to be auctioned as per the procedure specified in the ordinance.
Asked if the auction route would be followed in 2027—when the lease period expires—he said "yes".
Acharya, on the other hand, said the auction of mining leases in 2027 would depend on the outcome of the SLP. "We have to wait for the SC order. If the decision is in favour of the government then leases will be auctioned. If it is decided in favour of the mining companies then we have to follow the decision of the apex court," he said.
The state government renewed 88 mining leases before the ordinance came into effect on January 12, this year. Additional Union mines secretary R Sridharan, present for the workshop at the Porvorim secretariat, explained that there are provisions for renewal of leases in the new ordinance, but if the leases were renewed before the ordinance came into effect the provisions do not apply. "This law (new ordinance) does not invalidate whatever was done prior to it coming into effect," said Sridharan.
He said there are three provisions in the ordinance under which a mining lease can be renewed—the application should have been made in time for renewal; all terms and conditions of licence should be complied with; and those mining lease applications which are pending before the government.
With regard to the ordinance, state officials said the Goa government will submit written objections and suggestions to the Union mines ministry for necessary changes in the same.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)