The environment minister Jayanthi Nattarajan, used herplatform as the Congress spokesperson to make an administrative announcement ofsuspending the environment clearance of 93 mines operating in Goa. She saidformal orders will follow.
She said that the suspensions will hold until all thedocuments of the mines were checked and verified.
Addressing the media on Wednesday the Union Ministerrubbished Goa Chief Minister’s order for closing operations of all the mines inthe State. “He is fooling the people of Goa, as his order is just anadministrative order and it has no legal standing,” Natarajan said.
“We have served notices to 50 dump owners not to clear dumpswithout environmental clearances. Recently eight mines were closed by us beforethe chief minister could take any action,” Natarajan added.
When questioned about the involvement of Congress MLAs inthe illegal mining activity, she said: “If anybody is found guilty, we will seethat stringent action will be taken against those persons. Law will take itsown course and those involved will be punished.”
“If any official in my ministry is found guilty of wrongdoing we will take disciplinary action against them,” she assured.
She further said that the Ministry of Environment and Mineswas carefully analyzing Justice Shah’s report. “There are important issues andwe have already written letters to the Chief Minister. There was no responsefrom their side,” Natarajan said.
