Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday refused to commit to auctioning as a route for fresh issue of mining leases in the State, a day after the Supreme Court of India cancelled all 88 recently-renewed mining and came down hard on the BJP-led coalition Government for glaring irregularities in the hurried renewal.
Addressing a Press conference at the State Secretariat on Thursday, Parrikar also said that the Government was in a process of issue fresh leases tentatively within six months and said that the apex court’s order, would not have much of a financial impact on the State Government’s treasury.
"Consequent to the order, the State will explore all possibilities including auction, to maximise the revenue of the State. I am not ruling out auction, but I am also not confirming auction. There are multiple options which I do not want to discuss at this stage," Parrikar said, even as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government at the Centre has backed auctions as a preferred route for tapping natural resources.
The Chief Minister also said, that while the apex court had directed stopping of all ore extraction by March 15, this year, the order did not specifically put any restrictions on export of iron ore or harvesting of already mined ore.
"They have been permitted to extract up to March 15. So obviously that ore will belong to them, subject to condition that they pay all the royalty and state mineral fund, everything. They can export without extracting also," the Chief Minister said.
"That means if there is material available with them on March 15 on the jetties or some other plots other than the time. That can be exported. There is no ban on export. There is no mining ban, no export ban. Mining has to be conducted by giving the lease through a process," Parrikar also said.
The Chief Minister, whose resignation is being sought by the Opposition for mismanagement in the mining sector and his alleged close proximity to tainted mining companies, who have been beneficiaries of the lease renewal process, also said that the fresh re-issue of mining leases could be done in six months. "Six months should be the target, from March. Tentative time schedule I found out can be six months. That is tentative, subject to no hurdles and problems in between. I have told you that state is examining all options," the Chief Minister said.