Bhubaneswar: The mining industry fears that the recent Supreme Court ruling on deemed renewal in the context of Goa would have wider repercussions on the industry unless current provisions under the MMDR Act are not amended.
The apex court while lifting ban on mining in Goa, has ruled that deemed renewal cannot be valid for more than 20 years. In case of Goa, the order said that there could not be a deemed lease renewal after 2007 of the existing lease deeds emanating from 1962 onwards.
However, if necessary amendments are not made in the MMDR Act 1957, the mineral bearing states including Odisha would send notices to the mines operating under deemed renewal to stop mining on the basis of the court order.
“Unless the union government brings necessary amendments in the MMDR act the Supreme Court ruling would have wider repercussions on the country’s mining industry,” said Mr.R.K.Sharma, Secretary General, Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI).
According to government data, there are as many as 19 mining leases including OMC’s Balda-Palsa-Jajang Iron ore mines, RP Sao, M.G.Mohanty, Kalinga Mining Corporation and MS Deb operating under the deemed renewal provision.
Leave a Reply