The Goa Government is planning to cancel 40 mining leases in the State that were granted during the erstwhile Congress-led regime.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the Legislative Assembly today that the State Government has already moved a file for legal advice on issuing notice to owners of 40 mining leases, whose delay in applying for conversion of their ‘concession’ into ‘lease’ was condoned by the Congress Government.
The former Government had condoned the delay although “they were not allowed to do so,” Parrikar said.
The delay in filing of the ‘J form’ under the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concession Act, 1987, was condoned by the previous Congress-led governments.
The deadline for filing the said form was November 22, 1988, but some were filed as late as 2005.
The ‘J’ form is necessary for conversion of old mining concessions granted during Portuguese rule into formal leases.
Out of 40 mining leases, only 8-10 are actually operational, Parrikar said, adding that almost all the leases in the State were operating under deemed provision.
“We will process their applications for renewal. Either they will be accepted or rejected, but we will take a stand on it,” the Chief Minister said.
Source: PTI
