Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The Department of Mines and Geology has asked lease holders to stop transportation of iron ore from the mining leases to comply with the Supreme Court of India order.
The Six month extension granted to transport ore has expired on January 31.
The Supreme court on Tuesday extended the time till 31 January, 2021 for the mining firms in Goa to transport the royalty paid iron ore extracted on or before 15, March 2018. The relief was granted on the grounds of nationwide lockdown imposed due to covid-19 pandemic.
The mining firms approached the top court seeking directions for the extension of the transportation period on two grounds. Firstly, they argued that the statutory authorities had delayed in issuing the transit permit and secondly due to the nationwide lockdown imposed in March within two months from the date of the judgment, the transportation could not be completed.
The Supreme Court on 7 February 2018 had cancelled 88 iron ore mining leases in Goa. The Supreme Court bench, headed by justice Madan B. Lokur, had held the government’s process of renewing the mining leases of companies to be “in violation of law” and directed the state government to stop all mining operations with effect from March 16, 2018 until fresh mining leases (not fresh renewals or other renewals) are granted and fresh environmental clearances are granted,”
