PANAJI

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi next week to discuss the resumption of mining in the state, Sanvordem MLA Dipak Pawaskar said today.

Pawaskar was speaking to reporters at the state’s Secretariat today after Parrikar conducted meeting with MLAs from mining belt. However, most of the MLAs from the mining belt like Pramod Sawant, Nilesh Cabral, Pratapsinh Rane, Rajesh Patankar were not present for the meeting, forcing the chief minister to postpone it to next date.

“Whatever may be the option to resume mining, the activity has to start by October this year,” said Pawaskar.

He said that Parrikar discussed three options to solve the crisis in the mining sector. The three options comprise passing an ordinance in Parliament to extend the life of the leases, auctioning the leases, and forming a state-run corporation to oversee mining operations, the MLA said.

While stating that majority of the people favoured going for an ordinance, Pawaskar said that it would be helpful only if environment clearances (EC) of these leases are also extended simultaneously. “Applying for fresh ECs would delay the resumption of mining further,” Pawaskar claimed.