Govt proposes to form mineral development corporation

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

With no sign of relief to the mining dependants from the central government, discussion on a proposal to form mineral development corporation has begun at the state government level.

Sources in the government said that a primary discussion between some ministers and senior bureaucrats has been already held on the proposal to form the corporation. It is learnt that the proposal now would be placed before Chief Minister

Manohar Parrikar, who is currently recuperating at his residence.

The idea of moving the proposal for forming the mineral development corporation was initially discussed at the BJP level and now it has reached the government level.

As per the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, the state government has to auction natural resources like iron ore mining leases.

Even though there is no clarity over the proposal, it learnt from sources that BJP leadership from Goa has realised that there would be no response from the central government on the demand by the state to amend the MMDR Act in order to facilitate the resumption of mining operations in Goa. Mining has come to a standstill since March 2018 following direction of the Supreme Court.

A delegation of BJP leaders from Goa led by the Chief Minister had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah, Union Minister for Mines Narendra Singh Tomar and others and put forward their demand for amending the MMDR Act.

The Chief Minister had also written a letter to the Union Minister for Mines urging him to work out legislative cures for Goa’s mining issue. However, there is no sign of relief being granted to the Goan mining dependants.