Goa mining ban: Affected people's group meets Union minister

Leaders of the Goa Mining People's Front, an umbrella body of those affected by the mining ban here, along with state BJP chief Vinay Tendulkar, today met Union Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

"During the meeting, we requested for an amendment to Section 2 of Goa Daman and Diu Mining Concessions Abolition Act, 1987 (to pave the way for the resumption of mining in the state)," GMPF president Puti Gaonkar told PTI after meeting the minister.

Gaonkar stated that Tomar wanted the Goa government to send a detailed proposal on resumption of mining in the state as well as its expectations from the Centre.

"Tomar has assured that he would take appropriate action after receiving this proposal," he said.

The mining sector in the coastal state came to a standstill on March 16, after the Supreme Court, in an order passed in February this year, quashed 88 mining leases and banned the extraction of fresh ore.