The Goa government on Friday said that it was considering all options on resuming mining operations in the state, reported PTI.
Mining companies in the state stopped their operations on March 16 after the Supreme Court in February quashed the state government’s direction to renew their licences. The top court had said that fresh leases would be issued only after the companies got environment clearances. It had also ordered the government to start a fresh auction process.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar held a meeting that was attended by Speaker Pramod Sawant and legislators, including Rajesh Patnekar and Pravin Zantye of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Deepak Pawaskar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar.
The MLAs said they want mining to resume by October or November, reported PTI. “The CM will also meet the MLAs who were unavailable for today’s meeting on account of being out of the state,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement. “All possible options for resumption of mining activity in the state are being evaluated.”
Once all the legislators reach a consensus, the matter will be taken up with the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Parrikar is expected to meet Modi in New Delhi next week, The Hindu reported.
Sawant said the state government wanted mining to resume because lakhs of people are dependent on it. “The mine owners have dismissed the staff which was working on contract basis while those who are on management have been laid off,” he said. “The permanent workers are forced to take voluntary retirement scheme.”
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