11 mines in sanctuaries to be shut: MoEF
PTI, NEW DELHI | 26 September 2013 21:05 IST
Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran
The centre today assured the Supreme Court that it would not renew licenses and Environment Clearance Certificates issued to 11 mines, which were functioning inside national parks and wild life sanctuaries.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) also told the Supreme Court that its expert body will review all 137 environment clearance certificates (ECCs), granted to Goa mining firms during 2005-2010.
“Each of 137 ECCs will be reviewed on merits by the MoEF and its Expert Appraisal Committee and a report will be filed before the court by third week of October,” said Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, appearing for MoEF and Mining.
He also informed the apex court that the MoEF, which suspended all ECCs after the report of Justice M B Shah panel was tabled in Parliament on 7 September 2012, later also served show cause notices to 49 miners.
“Mines located within the national parks and sanctuaries in Goa will not be allowed to reopen,”, he told the forest bench headed by Justice AK Patnaik.
Parasaran said 11 ECCs were granted to mines which were functioning inside national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and those licenses cannot be renewed.
The court would resume hearing on 1 October on the PIL filed by Goa Foundation, an environmental action group, on illegal mining in Goa.
Earlier, the MoEF had conceded that most of the ECCs, granted to Goa mining firms, were indefensible”.
The counsel for Goa had concluded the arguments saying the state be “left alone” to act on the issue according to the law and the Constitution.
The Goa government had also said the Lokayukta be allowed to function as the regulatory authority to supervise mining in the state till the time a proper mechanism is put in place.
To the submission that there were laws and rules to regulate mining, the bench said, “Ultimately, the decision has to be taken by the people who are in government. If the people in the government are not serious, then the rules cannot be implemented.”
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RECOVERING 35,000 CRORES IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR.
- JOSE ROD, GOA | 27 th September 2013 15:37
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