HC dismisses Goa Foundation plea against dump mining policy

Panaji: The Bombay high court on Thursday dismissed a PIL filed by Goa Foundation, challenging govt’s dump mining policy that allows iron ore to be returned to former leaseholders without auction.

Goa Foundation challenged Section 2.2 of the policy for regulating iron ore dump handling, arguing that the state cannot hand over large quantities of ore to former miners without securing the best price through a transparent auction process.

The Supreme Court, in its April 2014 judgment, declared all mineral dumps outside lease areas illegal. It argued that such dumps now vest with the state and cannot be handed over to former miners on payment of nominal royalty.

The petition stated that the policy allows public resources to be distributed as largesse to powerful mining lobbies , which continue to exert influence in their favour. It argued that the policy violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, as well as the principles of public trust and intergenerational equity.

Goa Foundation also stated that minerals belong collectively to the people of the state and that govt acts only as a trustee. It said the National Mineral Policy, 2019, recognises the rights of citizens and future generations to ensure that natural resources are disposed of to their best advantage.

It argued that all mining dumps qualifying as ore should be placed before the monitoring committee .
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