PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant yet again indicated resolution to the more than two-year-old iron ore mining logjam, adding that his government in tandem with the industry was exploring all possible options, including issuing fresh mining leases through the public auction route.
Several long-standing companies in Goa's mining industry, however, have steadfastly opposed the auctioning of leases.
They are pressing for a judicial or legislative cure to the logjam stemming from the Supreme Court order of March 2018, rendering all the 88 leases operative then, illegal.
Sawant meanwhile expressed that operations in the sector will restart in about six months.
On Thursday, Sawant had deliberated the issue with Union Mines Minister Prahlad Joshi at a meeting in Delhi where Goa's mining industry representatives were also present and the latter reiterated their reservations over lease auctions.
Sawant said the Centre and the State government were on the same page to fast track resolution of the mining logjam.
“There is a daily correspondence between the Mines Director and Central Mines Ministry. We want to ensure that no further legal hurdles emerge,” Sawant said.
The Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) meanwhile said submissions have been made by the industry and the Ministry of Mines is evaluating all options for an early resumption of mining in Goa.
Mining companies have petitioned the court with a challenge of the Goa Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act 1987.
The petitions want the Apex Court to adjudicate the question of revalidating leases for 50 years from 1997, the year in which all leases ceased to be valid under this Indian law which converted the Portuguese granted mining 'concessions' to 'leases'.
Although Sawant said the lease auction route is also on the government's agenda to resolve the mining logjam, Goa's review petition in the Supreme Court is also being hotly pursued in a bid to reverse the Apex Court's 2018 judgement.
