PANAJI: Bharatiya Janata Party legislators on Wednesday demanded to modify the order issued by the directorate of mines and geology directing to stop mining activities from March 13, when the Supreme Court had directed to stop it from March 15.
The meeting of the BJP legislators, which was also attended by Independent MLA, Prasad Gaonkar, was held at the chamber of Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza on Wednesday. Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma and Special Secretary to the Chief Minister P Krishnamurthy were also present in the meeting.
Other than Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar, MLAs Alina Saldanha and Milind Naik, all other BJP legislators including Speaker Pramod Sawant were present in the meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, D’Souza informed that a demand was made by the legislators to increase two days that is up to March 15 to carry out mining activities in the state as per the Supreme Court directions.
“The MLAs are of the opinion that when the Supreme Court allows mining operation till March 15, how can the directorate of mines and geology reduce it by two days. So we have asked the Chief Secretary to take necessary steps and he has assured to look into it,” he said.
He further said that the Chief Secretary also informed the members that he will take legal opinion from the advocate general and the law department to find out solution to continue mining operations in the state. “If necessary, a cabinet meeting would be called with the approval of the Chief Minister on mining issue,” the Law Minister said. He maintained that the Chief Minister can either delegate power to one minister to chair the cabinet meeting or can take it through video conferencing.
