Goa leaders to approach Centre for solution to mining woes

An all-party delegation from Goa will be visiting Delhi on Monday to seek a solution from the Union government to the state's mining woes.
The Supreme Court, in an order, has cancelled 88 mining leases and has banned extraction of iron ore from March 15 onwards and state leaders feared the sector could shut down.
Leaders from the BJP, Congress, MGP, Goa Forward Party as well as Independent legislators met for over two today evening to discuss the issue.
It was chaired by state Transport Minister Sudhin Dhavalikar and parties unanimously decided to go to Delhi to meet Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday.

Dhavalikar said that the delegation would also try to seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue.
"The order will have severe economic impact on Goa. The state will lose Rs 3,500 crore in revenue annually and two lakh people will face unemployment due to the ban. All parties have unanimously decided to approach the Centre for a solution," Dhavalikar said.