Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 14: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday announced that the state is ready to present its case before the Supreme Court in connection with the mining matter that is likely to come up for hearing on Monday December 14, a report by TOI stated.

Sawant maintained that if the Supreme Court agrees with the stand of the state government, then mining leases will be allowed to operate in the state till 2037. He also said that he hopes the matter gets resolved within three hearings.

Addressing the reporters, CM Sawant said that he had a meeting with the director of mines, advocate general Devidas Pangam and the counsel in Delhi who will appear on behalf of the state. He also said that the state government review petition and mining companies’ special leave petition (SLP) has been tagged by the apex court.

Over 26 village panchayats have approached the Supreme Court with an interlocutory application (IA) seeking impleadment in the Goa mining case. Back in February 2018, the apex court had quashed the second renewal of 88 mining leases, putting an indefinite pause on the mining industry. Last year, the state government filed a review petition against the order. It also sought to tag the review petition with the one filed by mining companies seeking to extend their leases till 2037.