The Bombay High Court has dismissed the writ petition filed by the Bombay Municipal Corporation Councillor and BJP City President, Mr. Ramdas Nayak, challenging the Dabhol Power Company’s 2015 MW project in Maharashtra. With this, one legal hurdle on the project’s way has been cleared. Another petition challenging it on environmental grounds will come up for hearing on September 6. Citing several Supreme Court orders, Justice B. P. Saraf and Justice M. L. Dudhat observed that it was not for the court to take a view on a policy or decision of the Government. It could, hence, not examine the viability of the project. Under its judicial review powers, it could take a view on the decision making process only if it was not in public interest.

Govt to amend rules for mining industry

In a major step towards providing a boost to the mining industry the Centre has decided to amend the Mineral Concessions Rule of 1960 and the Mineral Conservation Development Rule of 1988. This was announced by the Minister of State for Mines, Mr. Balram Singh Yadava, while addressing the 28th annual general meeting of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), here on Friday. Announcing some of the proposed amendments, the Minister said that though the applications for renewal of mining leases were made twelve months before the date of expiry, in many cases the State Governments were not able to take a decision on the application even after the deemed extension of mining leases for a further period of one year, leaving applicants in a state of uncertainty. It was now proposed to allow mining lessees to continue mining operations until the State Government passed an order on the renewal application.

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