HC quashes state government’s EC renewal logic; demands mining blocks obtain fresh ECs

The State Government’s plans of auctioning 3 mining blocks without the need of getting fresh Environment Clearances was quashed by the high court in a major ruling earlier today. This could effectively set back the start of mining by at least a year.

The state government had been directed by two Supreme Court judgements to go in for fresh mining leases and fresh Environment clearances. The state government however, ,

based on an order of the High Court in 2014, attempted to grant second renewals instead of fresh leases in 2014-15. Asserting that the EC’s were valid for 30 years, the state government argued that the amendment under 8A of the MMDR Act, 1957 enabled it to transfer the ECs issued under EIA 2006 to the new mining blocks.

In a detailed judgment released today, the High Court declined that assumption, thus setting back any effort of the state government to resume mining by cutting corners. With the High Court respectfully declining to support the state government’s decision, all mining blocks would have to obtained fresh ECs. Thus all prospects of mining resuming immediately have ended up in smoke.