PTI reported that the Goa government has decided to cancel licences of 40 mines whose delay in filing of J form under the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concession Act 1987 had been condoned by the previous Congress led governments.

Mr Manohar Parrikar CM of Goa said in the state Legislative Assembly that all the 40 licences would be cancelled within two weeks. Deadline for filing J form was November 22nd 1988. But some of the forms were filed as late as 2005.

Mr Parrikar said that J form is necessary for conversion of old mining concessions granted during the Portuguese rule into formal leases. Only Union Government had the power to condone the delay.

Source - Press Trust of India

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