the goan I network
PANAJI
The quest for a legislative cure to the Supreme Court imposed closure of iron ore mining operations in the State hit a dead wall with the Union Law Ministry advising the Mines Ministry to decline Goa’s request for an amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, media reports from Delhi said on Monday.
Quoting a communique from Union law secretary Suresh Chandra to the mines ministry, the report in a leading National daily said, the request of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to amend the MMDR Act, so as to extend the tenures of Goan mining leases to 2037 is inconsistent with section 8A of the law as also the directions and judgements of the Supreme Court in February.
The Union law secretary, however, suggests another route to early resumption of iron ore mining in Goa, the report said.
Chandra has advised that Goa’s mining lease holders themselves approach the Apex Court directly for a review of the February 7 judgement and restoring their “vested rights” in the 88 cancelled mining leases.
“The law laid down by the Supreme Court under Article 141 of the Constitution or the law made by the Parliament normally does not take away the vested rights. This may be a sufficient ground for seeking review of the Supreme Court order,” the report quoted Chandra’s advisory communique to the Mines Ministry, as saying.
Parrikar had in August visited Delhi before being immobilized by his pancreatic cancer ailment and presented a written request to the Union Mines Minister Jitender Singh Tomar to tweak the MMDR Act and extend the tenure of mining leases to 2037.
He had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to solicit his support for the move and also discussed the issue with Nitin Gadkari and other members of the Group of Ministers on Mining during the visit.
The section 8A, which deals with tenures of leases for minerals other than coal, lignite and radio-active minerals, limits and co-relates the period for which existing leases may be extended to whether they are captive or non-captive leases.
Parrikar’s request had sought amendment to the MMDR Act to re-fix 1987 as the official start date of the 50-year mining leases, which by default would have made them valid up to 2037 and circumvent their February 7 cancellation by the Supreme Court.
The law secretary’s communique to the Union Mines ministry, however, vetoes the proposal as it “alters the basis” of the Supreme Court judgement, the report said.
Resumption of mining is a crucial issue that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is heavily banking on to give a much needed impetus to its sagging fortunes in Goa in the face of the current adversity owing to Parrikar’s health-induced no show in office.
CM should set record straight
on mining imbroglio: Lobo
PANAJI: Deputy Speaker Micheal Lobo on Monday made a forceful plea for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to put the record straight on the mining imbroglio.
Lobo made the remark in the context of reports that the State’s strategy to bank on the Central government for changes in the mining law for early resumption of mining facing resistance from the Union Law Ministry. “In the next 2-3 days chief minister should address a press conference and tell what is the solution on the mining issue,” Lobo said.
Congress demands one-day
session to discuss mining
PANAJI: Opposition Leader Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar on Monday wrote to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Governor Mridula Sinha seeking convening of a special session of the Goa legislative Assembly to discuss and reach a consensual strategy for the State on the mining issue. Kavlekar said, he has demanded the one-day session following reports that Union law ministry has rejected State’s demand for tweaking the laws to pave the way for mining resumption following the Goa legislature’s unanimous resolution of August last.
Solution in 10-15 days: Tendulkar
PANAJI: Rajya Sabha MP and BJP State unit president, Vinay Tendulkar on Monday said the party is confident that the Central government will deliver a solution to Goa’s mining issue in the next 10 to 15 days even as he dismissed media reports suggesting that the Union law ministry has rejected the demand for amending the MMDR Act.
Tendulkar said the media reports should not be given any importance as they have full faith in the Central leadership which has assured a solution to Goa’s vexed mining problem which will pave the way for restarting of the industry.
