The government of the western Indian state of Goa has decided to petition India's Supreme Court seeking a review of its verdict closing down iron ore mines in the region, government officials said on Friday, May 11.
The state cabinet proposal to petition the Supreme Court seeking a review of its earlier order has been approved by the Goa government and a formal review petition will be placed before the Supreme Court over the next few days, the officials said.
In a verdict delivered in February this year, the Supreme Court directed that all 88 iron ore mines in Goa would have to close down by March 15, 2018, as renewal of their mining lease without adopting the mandatory auction route was illegal.
Goa government officials said that the government is compelled to seek a review considering that it will lose an estimated $522 million in revenues in a full year following the mines closing operations.
However, it might be noted that the federal government has expressed reservations against the Goa government opting for a review petition as based on the legal opinion it is unlikely that the Supreme Court will reverse its earlier ruling.