Mining in Goa: State hopes Centre will amend laws for resumption of activity

The community dependent on mining in Goa, including leaseholders, hopes that the Centre will soon make an amendment to the Goa, Daman and Diu (Abolition and Declaration of Mining Leases) Act (Abolition Act), 1987 to pave way for resumption of mining activity which came to a standstill in March last year following a Supreme Court order. Though the power to amend the Act lies with the Centre, sources said it is still awaiting the Supreme Court The Centre reckons until a decision on the matter is arrived at by the apex court, the title issue will not get resolved. Goa Mining concessions in the state were granted much before of its liberation from the Portuguese rule in 1961. These concessions were converted into mining leases through the amendment to the Abolition Act, 1987. The state government is of the opinion these leases should be deemed to have been granted in 1987 and have a tenure of 50 years, like any other leases under the amended MMDR Act, 2015. It suggested an insertion in the Abolition Act which reads, The ongoing impasse Meanwhile, both the Centre and the state are of the view that the closure of mines has entailed a great public and financial prejudice not only on citizens of the state but also on the state exchequer.