WAY FORWARD
1)
Granting an extension of the leases through an ordinance
2)
Resuming mining through a government-run corporation
3)
Through an auction of mining leases in the State
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We are discussing all the options. The option that will restart mining soonest is through the ordinance route-----------------------------------
- Deepak Prabhu Pauskar,
Sanvordem MLA
PANAJI: The much-hyped meeting of all MLAs on the mining issue failed to take off after several MLAs did not turn up saying they were out of station, however, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar held a meeting with concerned officials of the mining department and Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association, who pushed for an ordinance to grant an extension to Goa’s mining leases.
At the high-level meeting it was expressed that the quickest way to resume mining in Goa would be through granting extension to Goa’s mining leases which could be routed through an ordinance.
Parrikar is expected to visit Delhi early next week to meet officials of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with the proposal from Goa.
Mining belt Sanvordem MLA Deepak Prabhu Pauskar who spoke to reporters said that the options that were before the government were of granting an extension of the leases through an ordinance, resuming mining in Goa through a government-run corporation and finally through an auction of leases.
“I am for whichever option resumes mining at the earliest,” Pauskar told reporters while also adding that the issue of an ordinance would be the fastest route to the restart of mining, but that there would be no guarantee that it would happen.
“We are discussing all the options. The option that will restart mining soonest is through the ordinance route,” Pauskar said.
Pauskar also informed that the chief minister will meet mining belt MLAs one-on-one since it was difficult to get them to come together for a joint meeting and instead take their opinions on board before his visit to Delhi early next week.
The government is yet to finalise a way forward on the mining issue despite the situation having been known to them no sooner the Supreme Court passed its order cancelling the mining leases back on February 7 this year.
Earlier Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had ruled out the ordinance route for the restart of mining and said that the government would explore other options including filing a review petition before the Supreme Court.
Nilesh Cabral said that the Government would file an interlocutory application before the Supreme Court and that the petition is ready and is only waiting for the Supreme Court to resume from its vacation at the end of June to file the petition.
