Supreme Court had scheduled a hearing today (22 Jul’16) regarding the case of 2nd renewal of iron ore mining leases. Goa Foundation had challenged the goan government on second renewal of 88 iron ore mining leases in Goa.
The Apex court, when it lifted mining ban in Goa in Apr’14, had also set a clause that all mining licences expired in 2007 will not be entitled to automatic renewal and will have to re-apply which means companies would have to go through the entire approval procedure all over again.
Last year NGO ‘Goa Foundation’ had filed writ petitions challenging the Goa govt. in the Supreme Court for renewing the lapsed mining leases. According to the petitioner Goa Foundation the state government bypassed the Supreme Court’s order and allowed miners to operate without auction or competitive bidding.
Later Mr. Prasanna Acharya, Director Goa DMG on behalf of state of Goa has filed an affidavit in reply to the writ petitions stating that all the 88 mining leases, 2nd renewal orders of deemed mining leases have been issued in confirmity with order of Apex Court dated 21 Apr’14 and also in exercise of powers under MMDR Act. Indian Bureau of Mines has approved mining plans in all 88 mining leases for a period of 20 years w.e.f 23 Nov’07 to 22 Nov’27.
According to the information received by SteelMint, in the hearing conducted today, Supreme Court did not arrive at an outcome and the hearing has been rescheduled. The hearing has been postponed for next 8 weeks.
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