Why no action against miners, SC asks Centre
GOANEWS & PTI, NEW DELHI | 26 September 2013 21:20 IST
The Supreme Court today took the central authorities to task for not taking action against the miners, who violated the environmental norms and extracted iron ore from forests and digging below the ground water level.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) admitted to the apex court that five out of 49 mining firms, who were issued show cause notices, were extracting iron ore below the ground water level which is not permissible.
During the day-long hearing, the bench, also comprising justices SS Nijjar and FM Ibrahim Kalifulla, referred to the provision of the Environment Protection Act and tool the central authorities to task.
The court said: “Do we understand that you have not taken any action against them (miners). You see, the Act has given you enormous power yet you are not doing enough. You can have one regulating committee in each state and this can be done as per the Environment Protection Act.”
“They (state government) are also to be blamed and we are also to be blamed. No purpose would be served by doing it,” said Solicitor General of India Mohan Parasaran.
He also put forth the proposed remedial measures to be taken by the MoEF to regulate mining in Goa.
He said that the Shah panel was appointed following various complaints of illegal mining in Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and after receiving the report, all ECCs were suspended.
In response to a query, the law officer said the power to terminate the mining lease vests with the state government as the land and the minerals, lying below the soil, belonged to the state and the Centre can only have the regulating authority.
He also said that comprehensive action would be taken to ensure that mineral resources are preserved for future generations also.
The forest bench had on 5 October last year halted mining operations in all the 90 mines in Goa considering the Justice Shah Commission report that had indicted almost all miners saying illegal extraction of iron ore during the last 12 years had caused a loss of Rs 35,000 crore to the state exchequer.
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Keeping in mind the home of Animals & Birds (Forest), Keeping in mind the livelihood of Farmers (Farms), Keeping in mind the Tourism (Tourist), Keeping in mind the Fresh Air & Water (Pollution & Health), Keeping in mind the Scam (35 thousand corer rupees), DECIDE THE MINING POLICY.
- John Ferns, Goa | 30 th September 2013 15:32
ONLY AAM AADMI PARTY CAN RECOVER 35,000 CRORES.
- JOSE ROD, GOA | 27 th September 2013 15:32
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