Panaji (Goa)

With only three days left for Union shipping minister Nitin Gadkari to arrive in Goa, the BJP today held meeting to discuss the crucial mining issue.

BJP National Secretary B L Santhosh chaired the meeting which was attended by majority of the legislators and office bearers at party office.

There was a detailed discussion on the current mining crisis during the meeting. SC has quashed 88 mining leases in Goa stopping the fresh extraction of ore due to which the industry has come to standstill from March 16 onwards.

“We are trying to work way out from the current mining crisis which has affected lakhs of people in the State. All possible efforts would be made to ensure that the people dependent on mining industry are not left in the lurch,” State legislative Assembly speaker and BJP legislator Pramod Sawant told reporters after attending the meeting.

Sawant, who represents Sankhalim constituency, which is iron ore mining belt, said that the State and Central government are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that the mining resumes as soon as possible.

State Panchayat Minister and BJP legislator Mauvin Godinho said that all the stakeholders of the mining industry who really matters would be heard only after that central and state government will be formulating a way forward. “We will be going forward when we work out a roadmap,” he added.

Godinho said that everybody in Goa is well aware that what impact would happen if mining is closed. “So every efforts are made by the state and central government, we want central government to intervene and resume mining,” he added.

“This requires political will and legal recourse.  We are thinking of how best to proceed forward,” he added.