Goa CM seeks Modi's intervention to address mining issues

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to address the current crisis in the state's mining sector, saying it has impacted 1.5 lakh people and hit iron ore exports worth up to Rs 25,000 crore.

During his first visit to the national capital after undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment in the US, Parrikar met Modi and also briefed a group of central ministers about the issues in the mining sector.

Last week, the Goa Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to suitably amend the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, to allow mining leases in the state to be operational till 2037.

The resolution also wanted the Centre to amend the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act in order to give mining leases in Goa a 50-year tenure of operation.

"I have requested him (Prime Minister) to consider Goa on priority... There is a very positive approach from the PM," the chief minister said after meeting Modi here.

Parrikar was accompanied by Union Minister and North Goa MP Shripad Naik, Rajya Sabha member Vinay Tendulkar and South Goa Member of Parliament Narendra Sawaikar.

After participating in a GoM on mining, Parrikar told reporters Goa is facing a total collapse in mining in the wake of a Supreme Court judgement and the GoM after "patiently hearing" the state of affairs has assured to work on some solution.

When asked whether he also gave some suggestions, he said, "My options were some legal amendments ... which would remove all these impediments because Goa is (in) very complex situation. It was concessions. From concessions we have shifted to lease."
The chief minister also tweeted, "Called on the Hon'ble PM Shri. @narendramodi ji in New Delhi and briefed him on the mining issue and other development works in the state of Goa."