Goa mining closure: Issue is complicated, says Parrikar

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today called the current crisis in the state's mining sector a "complicated issue" and added that a remedy for it would have to be "carefully" thought of.

He was addressing a press conference after chairing his first cabinet meeting since returning from the United States of America following medical treatment for a pancreatic ailment.

"Among the issues of priority, mining is the first. I am taking stock of the situation so that the issue can be solved," he said.

The state's mining sector was brought to a standstill after the Supreme Court, on February 7 this year, quashed 88 mining leases and banned the extraction of iron ore from March 15.

"It is a complicated issue which has risen out of the Supreme Court judgement, so a remedy has to be carefully thought of," Parrikar said today.

The state government has said that it would file an intervention petition in SC pointing out to the loss of livelihood caused due to the closure of the mines.