60 mines could start if ban lifted: CM
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 24 April 2013 14:10 IST
Goa government hopes at least 60 mines could restart if the present ban on operations by the Supreme Court is lifted.
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar said at the most 15 to 20 mines would not be allowed due to the environmental issues like wild life sanctuary, forest cover etc.
According to him, total 81 mines were operational when the Supreme Court imposed a ban on mining operations in October last year.
The case is now expected to come up before the forest bench of the Supreme Court once the bench is reconstituted, after summer vacation.
Replying to the questions raised by opposition benches today, Parrikar also said the stamp duty collected from lease holders would be refunded if some of these mines are held illegal by the apex court.
Parrikar told independent MLA Vijay Sardesai that the state has collected Rs 304 crore till date while passing renewal orders of seven leases and approving 18 other leases.
“We have approved renewal of these mines only after ascertaining that they have all the requisites for lease renewal”, said Parrikar.
He however also clarified that mining operation is different than the lease license and the lease holders require separate clearances and permissions for extraction of iron ore.
Parrikar said the stamp duty has been collected for lease renewal of 20 years from 2007, till 2027.
When Congress MLA Babush Monseratte asked why the stamp duty, if pending, has not been collected from 1987 to 2007, Parrikar assured him to examine the issue.
“It’s a good suggestion. I will then get at least Rs 500 crore more”, he said.
Parrikar informed the House that his predecessors had not collected the stamp duty from lease holders since 1987.
