Growing public outcry over illegalities in leases cited in Commission report

The Goa government on Monday suspended the operation of all existing mining leases with effect from Tuesday. This has been done to scrutinise clearances obtained by the leaseholders and not to allow continuation of operations without verification of requisite approvals in the coming mining season. The action comes in the wake of the growing public outcry over the illegalities in the mining sector as brought out by the Justice M. B. Shah Commission of Inquiry in its report, which was tabled in Parliament last week.