Centre's GoM to discuss Goa mining issue on Oct 13: Dhavalikar

The Union government's Group of Ministers would meet on October 13 to discuss the current crisis in Goa's mining industry, state Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said Monday.

The coastal state's mining industry came to a halt in March this year after the Supreme Court, in an order in February, quashed 88 leases and banned the extraction of iron ore.

The Centre's Group of Ministers (GoM) comprises Union Minister for Shipping Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Mines Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Dhavalikar Monday said that the GoM will discuss ways to resume mining in Goa as its closure had resulted in huge losses to the state.

The Goa minister said that the Union government will find a solution to the crisis by amending the existing mining law during the Parliamentary session to be summoned in November.

"The amendment will give new life to the mining leases and it will result in the industry's resumption," Dhavalikar said.

Earlier last month, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had submitted a proposal to the GoM urging its intervention to restart mining in the state.