Mining ban: CAC may meet tomorrow over review plea

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

The three-member cabinet advisory committee looking after the state administration in the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to meet on April 26 to discuss the opinion of  senior counsel Harish Salve as well as representations received from various stakeholders in the mining industry.

The committee could also make related recommendation to the Chief Minister, who is undergoing treatment in the US.

Minister for Transport and Public Works Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, who is one of three members of the committee, told ‘The Navhind Times’ on Tuesday that all these opinions have already been forwarded to the law department as well as the department of mining and geology, and further, these departments have been told to study the same and put up their views before the committee.

“The government has received representations from the association of mine owners in the state, and well as the labour association linked to the mining industry,” he informed.

Salve has advised the state government that it has no chance of getting a favourable verdict in the mining case if it files a review petition before the Supreme Court, which had earlier quashed the renewal of 88 mining leases stopping mining operations in the state from March 16, 2018.

On the other hand, the stakeholders in the mining industry have requested the government to intervene in the matter and find a solution so that the mining activities in Goa – at least the transportation of the extracted ore – continue until decision on the future of the state mining leases is reached.

Dhavalikar said that once the two departments give their report, the three-member committee will sit and deliberate on the same, and forward the matter to the Chief Minister for final decision.

“I expect the three-member committee to meet this Thursday over the matter, with the two departments providing their views earlier,” he noted.