Prabhu meets Goa CM, Sardesai; discusses industry, mining

Goa Forward Party chief and state Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai Saturday met Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu here demanding his intervention to take up the issue of mining with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The mining sector in the coastal state came to a standstill in March this year after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases and banned the extraction of iron ore.

"The issue needs to be placed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I requested his (Prabhu) intervention to take up the issue with the PM. He (Prabhu) responded positively," Sardesai told PTI Saturday.

Prabhu Saturday evening also met Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the latter's residence here.

He said that issues related to development of the state as well as the mining sector were discussed during the hour-long meeting.

"The agenda of the meeting was the overall development of Goa. We want Goa to have environment friendly industries, which will create more job opportunities," Prabhu told reporters.

On the mining issue, the Union minister said, "I have made it clear that whatever decision the Goa government takes on mining will be followed up with the Central government.