BJP ally seeks Central ordinance for resumption of Goa mining

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The Goa Forward Party, a constituent of the BJP-led Goa government, today demanded that Central government bring an ordinance for resumption of mining activity in the coastal state, which came to standstill last month in view of the Supreme Court order.

"The Central government should bring an ordinance to start mining in Goa. The stoppage of mining activity has affected the livelihood of lakhs of people who are facing financial trouble," Goa Forward Party (GFP) president and state Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai said at an event in his Mayem constituency today.

Besides the GFP, the Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three Independents are the constituents of the Manohar Parrikar-led government.

The mining industry in Goa came to halt on March 15 in the wake of the apex court order banning extraction of iron ore in the state.

The Supreme Court had in February quashed the second renewal of iron ore mining leases given to 88 companies in Goa in 2015.

Sardesai is one of the three members of the Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC) set up Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar before he left for the USA for medical treatment last month.

As per a state government estimate, around two lakh people became jobless due to the mining ban.