The Goa Miniing cases, which was to be heard in the Supreme Court today was deleted from the list as Apex Court said that the matter would go to the same bench that would be hearing the Review Petition filed by the Goa Government
“Last night (15.7.2020), Goa Foundation’s lawyers in Delhi were informed that the Vedanta appeal (filed together with a petition by Fomento) had been deleted from the hearing list of the Chief Justice’s Court. Adv. Shyam Diwan, appearing for Fomento, sought to get another fixed date for the hearing at mention time during the video conferenced court. The Court said no, and said the matter would go to the same bench that would be hearing the Review Petition filed by the Goa Government,” the Goa Foundation said.
The NGAO said that the Goa government is simply playing the fool. “Though there is a Supreme Court order to restart mining as soon as possible, it is hiding under the skirts of Vedanta and Fomento, eager to hand over leases back to these two companies and a group of others who have done precious little but loot Goa’s mineral resources, line their own pockets, and zealously advance the cause of the Chinese economy by supplying them ore (allegedly extracted earlier) even during the monsoon”.
The Goa Foundation further said that the as reported earlier Fomento submitted to auction in Odisha and paid out 141% premium for a lease there.
“…but here, Mr Sawant feels they should be given Goa’s resources for free, as if the ore is Mr Sawant’s private property. It belongs to the people of the state, not even to the rest of the people outside the state,” it said.
Hence, it said, mining cannot restart only because of the pressures exerted by the mining lobby.
“It can re-start fairly soon if done under the supervision of a Goa Mineral Development Corporation, it says.
Moreover, the Goa Foundation has submitted several proposals in this direction to the Government but good sense and public interest has never been found in the company of politicians.