Panaji, Dec 3 (IANS) If mining does not restart in Goa soon, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar knows the kind of “political impact” it will have on the BJP, said state Minister for Agriculture Vijai Sardesai in the BJP-led coalition government in Goa on Monday.
Sardesai said his party Goa Forward, which is part of the ruling alliance, would be joining pro-mining protesters in the national capital during the upcoming winter session of Parliament, demanding speedy resumption of mining in the coastal state.
“CM will play a role. He also knows the kind of political impact his party will have to face, if mining in Goa does not resume at the earliest. So, it should resume at the earliest,” Sardesai told reporters here.
Sardesai also accused the government of not being transparent with the people of Goa about the exact possibility of mining resumption.
“…but people should be told transparently about what is happening. Until now that has not happened. Goa’s Central ministers are responsible for inter-departmental co-ordination (in the Central government). If they can’t do it, they should tell the people that they can’t do it,” Sardesai added.
The mining issue has been hang fire in Goa, ever since the apex court banned extraction and transportation of iron ore from 88 mining leases from March, while also directing the state government to re-issue mining leases.
The is second time in less than a decade that all mining activities in the state have come to a standstill.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has backed renewal of mining leases in favour of existing lease holders instead of choosing the auction route, has repeatedly reassured that the renewal of mining leases would be facilitated by amending the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
–IANS
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