Govt decision to renew mining leases under fire

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 23 February 2013 14:44 IST

While the whole mining activity is being banned in Goa by the Supreme Court, the issue of renewal of mining leases by Goa government has become a fresh controversy.

The mines department has sent letters to seven mining lease holders, asking them to renew their leases by month end.

Ramesh Gawas, fighting illegal mining, has strongly objected to this step, stating that renewing any lease before the issue is resolved would amount to illegality.

The opposing Congress on the other hand has demanded that the leases should not be renewed but auctioned.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has agreed to the demand, provided the central government (ruled by the Congress) decides not renew the mining leases as the central law that all the states follow.

BJP vice president Dr Wilfred Mesquita pointed out that mining is a central subject and also monitored through a central legislation.

The demand of auctioning mining leases was made at a joint press conference of the Congress addressed by Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco and Sudip Tamankar.

“They should make this demand to their party leadership in Delhi and not to the state government”, quipped Dr Mesquita.

But Gawas, fighting illegal mining, has pinpointed the state government’s decision to renew the leases itself.

Following Shah Commission report, the Supreme Court needs to verify the legality of the mining leases. Till then, no lease should be touched even for renewal purpose, feels Gawas.

However, the state government has decided in principle to go ahead with the renewal as it would bring in almost Rs 120 crore in the state kitty towards the stamp duty.

From among 300 renewal applications pending before the mining department since 2007, the mining department has identified seven leases.

Lease Holder

Area in Ha

Stamp Duty (Rs)

Rajaram Bandekar, Sirgao

96

14 Cr

M/s Sociadade Timblo, Panshe

68

12 Cr

Chowgule & Co, Shirgao

72.25

7 Cr

Chowgula Co, Mayem

96

9 Cr

Sesa Goa, Codli

100

4.73 Cr

Cosme Costa, Pissurlem

62

60 Cr

Chowgule Co, Codli

96

13 Cr

TOTAL

590.25

119.73

 

The mining department has also identified total 42 leases, which fall outside the forest belt. Only five among it, are non-working.

The lease, once renewed, would remain valid for the next 20 years, till 2027.

The previous lease renewal had taken place in 1987.

However, Justice Shah Commission has pointed out some cases where the erstwhile Congress government had granted deemed renewal to some leases.

These leases were not renewed in time but were reopened after China boom started by using the ‘deemed renewal’ powers the government enjoys.

This whole matter is presently under scrutiny and decision of the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to start the lease renewal process.


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Previous Comments

Ratikant , Goa::::

CORRECTION::

Mr Parrikar actually thinks, all the Mines actually belong to the miners and BJP only.

The Miners are BJP`s Accountants.

The only thing, these days, that belongs to GOANS ...is Heartache .

- N.Fernandes, London | 26 th February 2013 14:38

 

This is another blunder by the CM. why renew these leases?

Auction these leases and let the,highest bidder win. Stop patrionising the present mine owners who have looted Goans of their wealth. The ore from Goa belongs to all the Goans and the wealth be equally distributed to the Goans.

Goan NGO's and well wishers of Goa should find out the ways how to stop the mining in Goa and if at all it needs to be resumed, then it should br by Government corporation. These few mine owners cannot enjoy the entire state's wealth. They have ripped Goa naked. They must be stopped at any cost.

secondly,What happens to the loot of 35,000 crores? Has everyone forgotten the Shah Commission reports findings?

No more news heard about it? It is possible that huge amounts could have been deposited in the foreign bank accounts of the rulers by the gang of Goa mine looters.

The corruption is so much imbibed in the blood of bureaucrats and politicians in GOA that anything is possible.

God save Goa and the Goans!

- Ratikant, Goa | 24 th February 2013 18:42

 

Mr Parrikar is doing no more other than being much better at fooling those affected by the Mining scams.

He is mis-leading them into a false sense of security & hope.

He believes his Constitutional Rights as an Elected MLA, gives him a Right to do as he pleases.

While out of power he was blowing his Trumpet very loudly about the illegal mining.

The affadavits he has filed in the Supreme Court are purely a Whitewash.

Mr Parrikar is slowly burying himself in UNTRUTHS to give himself creedence.

- N.Fernandes, London | 23 rd February 2013 17:42

 

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