Panaji (Goa)

The first meeting of the three-member Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC), to discuss and work out solution for the mining crisis, will be held tomorrow afternoon.

CAC comprises of Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar (MGP), Minister Francis D’Souza (BJP) and Minister Vijay Sardessai (Goa Forward Party). It is an temporary arrangement made in Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s absence till March 31.

“I have spoken to chief minister Manohar Parrikar telephonically and the Cabinet Advisory Committee will meet tomorrow at 3 p.m. to discuss and decide future course of SC judgment and the mining crisis that stares Goa in the face,” Sardessai tweeted.

Supreme Court has quashed 88 mining leases while directing them to stop operations from March 16.

The meeting is basically going to resolve for Centre’s intervention in protecting the livelihood of the people dependent on the mining business, directly and indirectly. There are nearly 60,000 families with almost two lakh population.

The MLAs from mining belt are pressing for an Ordinance to keep in abeyance the Supreme Court judgment at least for four-five years.