Even as iron ore mining in the western Indian coastal state of Goa gradually goes back into operation, fresh uncertainties have surfaced with India’s federal mines ministry seeking details and clarifications on the renewal of 89 mining leases, a senior Goa government official said on Tuesday, November 3.
The details and clarifications have been sought on the procedure followed in the case of those 89 mines which have been granted second renewals of lease and, though it has not been stated officially, doubts have been raised that there might have been irregularities in the course of hurried renewals to get mining back into operation, the official said.
The letter from the Federal Ministry of Steel to the provincial government seeking all details on renewals is significant as it comes just ahead of an Indian Supreme Court hearing on a petition from a private individual activist challenging the process adopted for mining lease renewal in Goa.