Panaji (Goa) Days after Supreme Court quashed the second renewals of 88 iron ore mining leases directing them to stop operations post March 15; the Congress party today accused Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for mishandling the mining issue causing loss of Rs 50,000 crore to state exchequers.

Addressing a press conference, Congress state president Shantaram Naik charged BJP led coalition government for failing to convince the Supreme Court on the lease renewal matter.

 “The Minister of Mines Manohar Parrikar should hang his head in shame for creating a mess of mining industry and for mishandling mining issue thereby causing of loss of not less than Rs 50,000 crores. Government failed to convince the Supreme Court as what would be consequences of closer of mining industry,” Naik said.  

Former Rajya Sabha MP demanded that government should call for a meeting of all political parties and ascertain their views in finding a solution to the issue. “Government should prepare a road map for solving the problem and initiate a discussion on the basis of the road map in the forthcoming session of Goa Assembly,” he demanded.

Naik further claimed that auctioning will not serve the interest of State, since big giant mine owners from outside the State will encroach upon the mineral resources of the State.