'Goa Regional Plan delayed due to mining crisis'

The continuing crisis in the mining industry has forced the Goa government to postpone drafting of the new regional plan for the coastal state. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the state Legislative Assembly that the process of drafting the regional plan (a land use plan for the state) was scheduled in September last year, but it could not commence because the mining industry went into crisis. "Let me be very frank. Government at this moment, is busy handling major mining crisis. We don't want another issue which will create controversy and heat in the state," he said. The BJP-led government after taking over the reins in the state had frozen the Regional Plan 2021, drafted by erstwhile Congress government, after it had run into controversy. Parrikar said the consultation to draft new Regional Plan would start in April month, after the state budget session.