Lobbies pushing for an immediate revival of mining in Goa are expecting to meet a Group of Ministers appointed by the Prime Minister and headed by Union Minister for Road, Transport, Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, Nitin Gadkari.

According to Puti Gaonkar of the Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF), the Goa Assembly will consider a resolution that will be moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Nilesh Cabral this week.

Cabral represents Curchorem, one of the mining regions in the State, and has been in favour of restarting mining in the State. Gaonkar had contested the 2007 Assembly elections from Valpoi constituency under the BJP banner.

Gaonkar said the meeting with Gadkari is expected to take place on August 4 for the way ahead after this resolution from the Goa State Assembly.

The resolution if adopted by the Goa Assembly will ask the Centre to find a way to resume mining in Goa which was halted from March 15 after a February 2018 Supreme Court order. The apex court had quashed the renewal of 88 mining leases.

Gaonkar said that the Centre can enable an immediate resumption of mining in the State by issuing an ordinance to the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987.

In a letter to the Union Mines Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, Gaonkar said an ordinance which makes Section 2 of the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987 prospective from May 22, 1987 will allow mining in Goa for two more decades. At present, the Act has been applicable from December 20, 1961.

“Mining leases are for 50 year so if the ordinance is passed, there will be no need to renew leases,” he explained.

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