Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Mining: No ordinance but intervention plea likely

The Goan Network | JUNE 12, 2018, 02:01 AM IST

GOVT FEAR
If an ordinance is passed, non-governmental organisations (NGO) might move court again and the crisis could repeat
THE STRATEGY
File an Intervening Application (IA) in the SC hoping mining resumption be allowed till 2020, as is legal, according to Goa legislation
WHAT AFTER 2020
The govt will have to try to find a practical solution amidst hope that mining will continue till 2020, as the law and Mineral Concession Rules permit
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PANAJI: Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Chairman and Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral on Tuesday said that the government would not push for an ordinance but would instead try to resolve the matter through an intervention application in the Supreme Court.
“PMO has been given a full idea in the concern. I am frequently travelling to Delhi to solve mining problem. I hope that mining problems will be solved soon and mining dependents can heave a sigh of relief,” stated Cabral.
“If the government passes an ordinance after the mining ban order then the non-governmental organisations (NGO) might move to court again and the whole crises would repeat,” Cabral said.
“Instead of this, the government's strategy would be to file an Intervening Application (IA) and they hope that the SC would allow mining to resume in the state till 2020, as is legal according to the Goa Legislation.
“At present, we have the first option as there is legal provision to keep mines working till 2020 and we are making efforts to continue mines till 2020,” Cabral said.
The Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF) wants the government to restart mining in the state by issuing an immediate ordinance to amend Section 2 of the Goa Mining Concessions Abolition Act.
He said that he hopes this would resolve the problem of the 3 lakh people who depend on mining for their livelihoods and that the economy of the state would also improve. "After 2020, we'll try to find a practical solution to the problem, but we hope that till 2020, mining will continue, as the law and Mineral Concession Rules permit the same. "
Cabral said that he has made four trips to Delhi between 28th May till date to try and resolve the mining crises and that the Prime Minister's Office is well-informed about the mining scenario in Goa.
He also said that a long-term solution to the problem i.e. whether to auction leases or not would be sought to reach in the period from now till 2020, but that the current solution is to see that mining continues till 2020.   

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