PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday that mining activities in the state will resume within the next six months after weighing all options including auctioning of leases, provided there are no legal issues.
Sawant held a meeting on Thursday with Union mines minister Pralhad Joshi, mines secretary, members of the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association (GMOEA) and others in Delhi. Speaking to mediapersons, Sawant said, “both Centre and state have started adopting measures to restart mining. We have fast-tracked on this front. Now there is a day-to-day correspondence between the directorate of mines and geology, Goa and the ministry of mines over mining resumption... I am confident that mining will resume in the state within six months. We are following all measures to avoid any legal hurdles,” he said.
Sawant also said that he has been following the matter since the last 18 months on a daily basis.
Joshi on Thursday had proposed that the mining leases in the state be auctioned. Ore exporters, however, had opposed the move and instead sought an amendment to the law so that mining can continue in Goa till 2037.
During the meeting, Joshi asked Sawant and GMOEA to explain why leases should not be auctioned in Goa and told them to make more submissions if they want.
GMOEA explained the issue to the minister.
Joshi assured to take necessary steps to restart mining in the state. He had said that the government would expedite the auction process.
“GMOEA told the mines minister about the problem that would be faced if leases were auctioned and said it would delay resumption of mining activities,” Sawant had told TOI.
He had said that he had requested the Union minister to take necessary steps to restart mining in Goa.