Digambar Kamat defends his government on mining lease renewal issue

PANAJI: Former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, accused of shielding illegal mining during his term, today broke his silence over the issue saying his government kept renewal of mining leases on hold as it was busy formulating regulations for the industry.

"When the applications for renewal were received the state government was busy drafting stamp duty amendment act and deciding buffer zones around the wildlife sanctuaries," he said in the legislative Assembly during a discussion on guidelines for mining policy.

Kamat government was blamed for not renewing mining leases, which continued to operate, adding to the problem of illegal mining in Goa.

"The section 24 (A) of Mineral Concession Rules 1960 mentions that if application is not disposed of within the (stipulated) time period, it is deemed to have been extended for one year," Kamat said.

The Supreme Court in April 2014 lifted the ban on the mining, but said the leases which were not renewed would be deemed illegal.

It also said the extraction of ore between 2007-2012 from these leases was to be considered illegal.

Kamat said that thousands of mines across the country operate under the deemed renewal provision. The apex court in its order on illegal mining in Odisha had given the power to the government to renew or reject the leases within three months, he said.

"Based on that judgement Odisha government renewed eight leases. If Odisha government can take the decision, why not Goa government apply the same yardstick?" he asked.