All eyes on 15th April SC hearing; government to file affidavit on mining concession case

11 Apr 2019 07:11 PM

The Supreme Court will begin to hear the 20-year-old mining concession case.



The State government will be filing an affidavit to take into consideration mining leases from 1987 instead of from 1957.


This was the demand of the mining workers who were holding a dharna at Jantar-Mantar, Delhi.


The three day dharna is over. And the Chief Secretary has landed in Delhi on behalf of State government. Sanvordem Sarpanch Sandeep Pauskar, brother of PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar told protesters that the government is willing to file an affidavit before court and Chief Secretary has already arrived from Goa.


Supreme Court will hear case of Abolition and Declaration of Mining Leases Act 1987 which abolished mining concession given by Portugese government and converted into 50 year's leases.


However, it was backdated to MMDR Act 1957 as result leases expired in 2011.


Now State government has filed an affidavit requesting court to implement the act dated from 1987 as result 50 year lease will expire in 2037.


As a result auction route will be avoided and old mining companies will retain their leases.


Congress spokesperson Siddhanat Buyao accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not giving any concrete assurance on mining during BJP public meeting at Bambolim.


He said that he had just repeated his old statements.


Reporter: Prahar Sanvordekar | Desk: Sameep Narvekar



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