PANAJI
The Public Works Department and the Water Resources Department will take over and manage the pumping out of water from the mining pits if need be to avoid any mishaps during the monsoons, informed CM Pramod Sawant on Wednesday.
Mining companies whose leases have expired have started removing their machinery from the mines as per state government’s order asking them to vacate the leases before June 6.
“We have told them not to remove the pumps. We will requisite the pumps and related machinery from them. If they don’t agree, PWD and WRD will take over and manage,” said CM.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court at Goa vacation bench on Wednesday declined to entertain a plea by a section of Goa’s mining companies who approached the court seeking relief from notices issued by the Mines Department to vacate the leases, instead posting the matter to be heard before the regular bench on June 6.
When the matter came up for hearing, Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the High Court that no coercive action will be taken against the leaseholders until June 6, since as per the notices issued, the mining companies have time until June 6 to vacate the leases.
Earlier this month, the Goa government issued notices to the leaseholders who hold possession of the 88 mining leases whose renewals were cancelled by the Supreme Court back in 2018 by June 6.
