PANAJI: The Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Goa Foundation, the State Government and others in a petition filed by Chowgule and Co, V M Salgaocar Bros and other companies in a petition challenging the order of the Bombay High Court of Goa disallowing the transportation of ore after March 15.
The matter has been listed for November 13.
On March 23, this year the Bombay High Court at Goa disallowed the transport of ore and in its judgement lambasted the State government for having taken a one-track approach in dealing with the allowing of transportation after the Supreme Court banned mining with effect from March 15.
“The State has emphatically asserted that the mining lease holders have full right to extract ore till 15 March 2018, pay royalty and transport the ore anytime they wish, since they are the owners after royalty is paid. The right of the mining lease holders is the foundation of the decision dated 21 March 2018,” the High Court said referring to the government’s decision while similarly castigating it for ignoring other options before it.
Only that ore which is allowed by the Supreme Court can be presently transported in the state.
