PANAJI
The Goa government has informed the Bombay High Court at Goa that it has withdrawn its notification permitting the transport of ore that was “allegedly” mined prior to 2007 and mining leaseholders would no longer be permitted to do so.
The statement was made while the High Court was hearing a petition filed by the Goa Foundation which had challenged the decision claiming that it would encourage illegalities.
“After hearing all sides, the Court informed the Goa government that it would either have to withdraw the Cabinet decision or face a judgement, and gave one week’s time. Today the Goa government informed the Court it was recalling the decision in view of the challenge posed,” the Goa Foundation Director Claude Alvares, said in a statement.
The petition alleged that the Cabinet decision dated 25.03.2021 was illegal on several grounds. The Goa Foundation had already moved the High Court with separate petitions to stay movement of ores pursuant to the Cabinet decision. In all such cases, stay had been granted.
Following the statement, the High Court proceeded to dispose of the petition while taking the government’s statement on record.
Several former lease holders including Sociedade Zarapkar and Parker, Mineira Nacional Limitada, Prabhakar Kunde, Mohanlal Rege had been provided permits to transport mineral ore from their leases allegedly extracted by them prior to 2007.
Mining between 2007 and 2012 was declared as illegal by the Supreme Court and ordered all the ore that was mined during that period to be “confiscated” by the government and e-auctioned.
However several mine owners had claimed that they had ore that was mined prior to that during the legal period, which they had sought permission to move and export.
