Summary:
The erstwhile Portuguese government had granted concessions in the state to carry out mining operations. What we have requested the central government is amendment to the MMDR Act so that the tenure of the leases could be extended. We are hopeful that the legislation would be brought before Parliament in the winter session,” South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, who also met the chief minister, told TOI.Nadkarni suggested that the government should go for e-auctioning of all the mining leases in the state.“CM wants mining activities to resume next month and hence, he is holding consultation. We also discussed various options available,” Nadkarni told TOI.The Supreme Court on February 7 had quashed the second renewal of 88 mining leases and had asked the state government to stop all activities in the state by March 15 this year.The Union government had in 1987 made a law by which it converted Goa mining concessions into mining leases. The chief minister also consulted additional solicitor general of India A N S Nadkarni on the legal route for resumption of mining.GMOEA requested the state government to put up a strong case before the Supreme Court on November 13, when the matter pertaining to the mining leases will come up for hearing.Various other options and ways and means to restart mining were also discussed at the meeting..