Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday advised mining companies to curb “greed for windfall profits” and made a pitch for economically and ecologically sustainable mining of iron ore.
Speaking at the inaugural function of a two-day mining summit on ‘Sustainable Mining’ organised by Federation of Indian Mineral Industries(FIMI), SMI and others, the Chief Minister emphasised on sustainability through curbs on unwarranted consumption of natural resources and not by reducing production.
In a veiled criticism of the judiciary for "impractical judgments", he said, “Courts cannot decide economic trajectory” and went on to say, “No judgment that cannot be executed should be delivered.”
He recalled a recent judgment of a Green Tribunal which banned sand mining, which led to loss of Rs.20 crore revenue for the tiny State of Goa over last 18 months.
“Every construction across the country is going on. How is that? What kind of judgement is this? You can’t stop an activity altogether. No government has the capacity for monitoring ban on an activity round the clock,” he said speaking about judgements difficult to implement in reality.
While acknowledging full respect for judiciary, Mr. Parrikar continued his veiled criticism of judiciary accusing it of at times of intruding in executive's domain to run the economy and quipped, “Let the Prime Minister and Cabinet handle economic agenda.”
Advocating inter-generational equity in mining sector, Mr. Parrikar said mining companies have also erred and done unsustainable mining and went on to advise them to control their greed "if we have to conserve our natural resources for future generations.”
Director General of FIMI said that the mining companies are compelled to function on deemed renewal as in most of the States, often, renewal is not done in time.
He expressed the concerns of the industry in view of the April 21 judgement of the Supreme Court wherein it held that deemed extension clause in MMRD Act to be extended only to first renewal and not subsequent renewals, thus rendering the latter mining illegal.
Goa mining was banned by Supreme Court for nearly 18 months in the course of a public interest litigation over illegal mining in the State and >relaxed the ban by its judgement of April 21 with an annual cap of 20 million tonnes and directing the State to regulate the activity through strict mechanism.
