SC to decide on 11 Nov export of ore dumps, Steel Cos oppose export
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 31 October 2013 20:56 IST
After completing a marathon hearing for 14 days on the Goa mining ban, the Supreme Court will deliver its first interim order on 11 November.
The order would be related to the strong plea made by the government as well as mining companies to allow exporting 11.60 MT iron ore lying at mining leases as well as jetties.
The Karnataka Steel Manufacturers’ Association today pleaded with the apex court not to allow iron ore export, stating that Indian steel companies need the ore for local production.
Adv Mukul Rohatgi, on behalf of the mine owners, said they do not mind it provided the Indian steel companies give the same price as offered by China.
The argument today ended at 1 pm with a brief rejoinder by Goa Foundation counsel Adv Prashant Bhushan as well as Amicus Curiae for Central Empowered Committee, Adv Harish Salve.
Adv Salve suggested that the iron ore dumps be sold through e-auction and the proceeds of the sale be kept in the nationalized bank, to be released only after legality of the iron ore is approved.
He also suggested a similar pattern like Karnataka, where a monitoring committee verifies the stocks at various locations.
Adv Bhushan, on behalf of Goa Foundation, also supported e-auction of the 11.6 MT of ore dumps while suggesting that the money from sale be credited to the state government to rehabilitate the mined areas.
On 11 November, the forest bench may also constitute a multi-disciplinary committee to advise the court on the issue of capping on iron ore extraction.
The Goa Foundation, as suggested by the court, today submitted names for the panels the bench wants to constitute for the issues of ecological balance and intergenerational equity.
The court has also suggested to Goa government and others to recommend names for the panels.
