SC order renders all mining leases in Goa illegal: Parrikar

The Supreme Court order on iron ore extraction has rendered all mining leases in Goa "illegal" and the State Government will have to put in place a mechanism to legalise them, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said today.
He said the Government is not inclined to follow the first-cum-first-served principle and a transparent policy will be put in place to offer the mines for operation.
The apex court yesterday lifted an 18-month-old ban on mining in Goa, but put an annual production cap of 20 million tonnes. It passed a slew of directions for the Centre and Goa Government for strictly regulating mining activities till an expert panel, set up by it, submits its final report.

Post-order, the State will have to formulate a policy to decide the fate of these mines, besides giving legal status for the ore which was exported through these leases for five years (from 2007), Parrikar said.
The court said the mining leases which were working on the deemed renewal clause after 2007 stand cancelled. The order also implies that the ore extracted after 2007 from these leases is a state property.
Parrikar told PTI that since the Goa Government had not renewed any lease, except one, after 2007 all the mines in the State have been rendered "illegal" as per the ruling.

"For every tonne of ore extracted during that period (2007-12) there has to be some mechanism to legalise it by the way of penalty or any other method," the Chief Minister said.

Parrikar hinted at filing FIRs against the mine owners who went ahead with the extraction of ore without renewing their mining leases after 2007. Till 2012, there were 118 mining leases which were operational in the coastal State.
The lease period of 10 years for all the mines had expired in 2007 after which the owners were supposed to apply for extension, but they continued operation without renewal.

Parrikar said after the court order all mines have become null and void as there was no lease renewal in 2007.
Responding to a question, the Chief Minister said the policy will decide whether to auction these leases or take another route to give them for operations.
"Letting them cannot be on the principle of first-cum- first-served basis. There will be a clear policy that will take into consideration many things. I have told my officers to work out a policy which is transparent. There should not be any discretion even with me," he said.
Parrikar assured that a new structure to deal with mining leases would be put in place by June.