Goa delegation to intensify efforts to help mining industry

After failing to get any concrete assurance from the Union government for the iron ore mining industry in Goa, which is staring at a crisis in the wake of an SC ruling, an all-party delegation in the state plans to intensify its efforts to help out the industry.
Among other things, the delegation plans to meet Goa Governor Mridula Sinha and Union ministers over the issue. The delegation also plans to approach the state cabinet for a resolution seeking Centre's intervention.
It also eyes to get the Goa Daman and Diu Mining Concession (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987, amended to ensure that iron ore mining activities continue even afterMarch 15.

The Supreme Court had last month quashed the second renewal of iron ore mining leases given to 88 companies in Goa in 2015. The apex court said it was giving time till March 15 to mining lease holders, who have been granted a second renewal in violation of its previous directions, to manage their affairs.
"We will now meet Goa Governor Mridula Sinha and urge her to take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," BJP legislator Nilesh Cabral, who was part of the all-party delegation that visited Delhi yesterday, said.
The delegation will also visit Delhi on March 9 and meet Union Minister for Mines Narendra Singh Tomar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, to press for the demand, he said.

"We will also approach the state cabinet for a resolution seeking Centre's intervention in ensuring that iron ore mining activities continue in the state postMarch 15," Cabral said.

"The cabinet will also have to grant its nod toamend the Goa Daman and Diu Mining Concession (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987, which will give extension to the mining leases," he said.
"If not amendment to the Abolition Act, the Union government can at least issue an ordinance keeping in abeyance the Supreme Court's judgment delivered on February 7, 2018 for the next four-five years, while initiating the process for auction of leases," he said.

The delegation, which went to Delhi yesterday had met Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal, but failed to get any concrete assurance from them.
Cabral said that both the union ministers asked the delegation to get the resolution from the state cabinet so that the demand gets "more weightage".
The BJP legislator said that even in the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, the three-member cabinet advisory committee formed by him (Parrikar) can approve the resolution.
Parrikar has formed the cabinet advisory committee comprising ministers Sudin Dhavalikar (MGP), Vijai Sardesai (Goa Forward Party) and Francis D'Souza (BJP). The committee would guide the state administration on various matters, including financial issues.