Warrant issued against Goa chief secretary in mining-related case

Panaji, Sep 16 (IANS) Criticising the state government for being slack over restoration of a mining lease, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday issued a bailable arrest warrant against Goa chief secretary B. Vijayan

In its order, a three-member bench of the NGT, comprising of Justice D.D. Salvi, Dr. G.K. Pandey and Bikram Singh Sajwan, said the failure of the government to process formalities for the restoration of a mining lease operated by M/s. H.S. Nathurmal posed a danger to agricultural activity in the vicinity of the mine located in Bicholim sub taluka, 30 km north of Panaji.

"Actually, the restoration of the mined area ought to have weighed heavily in the mind of State of Goa, and as a corollary it would have responded to the present application appropriately. However, there seems no will on the part of the State of Goa to do even the least favour of responding to the cause of restoration. None is present before us to say anything in the matter," the order said, while issuing the warrant and setting a bail amount of Rs.20,000.

The petition in the NGT was filed by the Goa Paryavaran Savrakshan Sangharsh Samiti.