PANAJI: An all-party delegation met Governor Mridula Sinha urging her to request central government’s intervention to salvage the state from the crisis it will face after closure of the mining industry.
The delegation urged the Governor to request the Centre to promulgate ordinance to keep the Supreme Court’s February 7 order, stopping mining operations after March 15, in abeyance for next four-five years.
The delegation was led by MGP leader and PWD Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar and comprised of Agriculture Minister and Goa Forward party chief Vijai Sardesai, Speaker Pramod Sawant, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, BJP legislator Nilesh Cabral, MGP MLA Deepak Pauskar and Independent legislator Prasad Gaonkar.
A member of the delegation told this daily that the Governor has suggested that the government send a proposal to the Centre in this regard either through a three-member cabinet advisory committee or by taking cabinet resolution.
Dhavalikar told reporters that the Governor has been requested to seek intervention of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save the mining industry, which is facing closure.
“We discussed the social issues which might arise if mining is stopped. We have given a detailed briefing to her,” Dhavalikar said, adding that, “We want help from the Centre on the issue.” He said that the government will not take any stand till the Prime Minister’s office responds.
Speaking about the Congress members, who abstained from being part of the delegation, Dhavalikar said the opposition party should keep political differences aside in the interest of the people.
“We are worried about the closure of mining. Our future action would depend on Governor’s decision,” he said.
All-party delegation had recently met Union shipping minister, Nitin Gadkari and Union railway minister Piyush Goyal in Delhi but couldn’t get satisfactory response.
Sources said that the state government has realised that the Centre is not in a mood to promulgate ordinance for amending the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concession (abolition and declaration as mining leases) Act, 1987; thus the delegation has urged the Governor to request the Centre to promulgate ordinance to keep the Supreme Court’s order in abeyance for next four to five years in order to continue mining operations in Goa.
