Goa govt handling mining ban issue "casually": Cong

"Goa government should appoint a good counsel to represent state in the Supreme Court on the mining issue," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee working president Fransisco Sardinha told reporters here today.

He further suggested to present the state's case properly in the apex court.

The Supreme Court would give a judgement in favour of the state only when the case is represented properly, he added.

The Supreme Court had halted the extraction and transportation of ore in Goa pending report from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

Sardinha said the situation was becoming grim in the mining belt. "People are being laid off. Who will take responsibility of their livelihood?" he asked.

The state government's proposed package for the affected people should be released immediately, he said.

Goa is the largest exporter of iron ore in the country which is tapped from its 90-odd leases located in seven talukas.