Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court has issued notice to the State government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Goa Foundation seeking suspension of all mining operations in the state after the monsoon.
The PIL, heard by Justices Bharti Dangre and Nivedita Mehta, will be taken up for consideration of interim relief on September 18, 2025.
The Goa Foundation has argued that mining in the state has recommenced without an effective regulatory framework, despite repeated assurances given by the government to Constitutional courts. The petition cites violations of the Supreme Court’s directions, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and Goa’s own mining policies and rules.
Raising concerns over past mismanagement, the NGO alleged that undue influence of private players on regulators had caused major losses to the exchequer and grave environmental damage. The PIL further stated that the Department of Mines & Geology lacks basic infrastructure, including laboratories, and depends solely on leaseholders’ self-declarations of ore quantity and grade.
Emphasising the Public Trust Doctrine, the Goa Foundation pointed out that mineral resources belong collectively to the people and must be managed transparently to safeguard both present and future generations. The petition noted that the State could potentially earn over ₹87,000 crore from the auction of 12 mineral blocks — nearly four times its projected budget revenue for 2025–26 — and argued that funds should not be a hurdle in creating a robust regulatory system.
As part of interim relief, the NGO has demanded round-the-clock supervision of mining activity, establishment of an independent ore-grading laboratory, verification mechanisms for production and pricing data, and a grievance system for affected village populations.
