Panaji: Congress party has urged State Governor Mridula Sinha to convey one-day-long Session of Legislative Assembly to discuss the issue on resumption of mining activity.
Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar on Monday wrote letter to Governor requesting her to call for a day long Session of the Assembly to discuss the issue on immediate solution for resumption of mining activity.
Over three lakh people dependent on mining activity are affected with the Supreme Court order which quashed 88 mining leases on February 07, 2018. The mining dependents are looking at an option of Amendment to the existing law in the Parliament so as to give new lease of life for the mining leases.
Kavlekar in a letter to the Governor has said that the Session should be conveyed to “discuss, conclude and direct the administration of Goa as well as to convey the demand of the people of Goa to the Government of India for early resumption of mining business without any further delay”.
State Legislative Assembly during the monsoon Session has already passed unanimous resolution that Central government should amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act 1957 and Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concession (Abolition and Declaration of Mining Leases) Act 1987, in a bid to
extend the life of mining leases till 2037.
“Unfortunately, we understand, as per reports in the print as well as electronic media and as per the memorandum received from the affected
people, that the Government of India has categorically rejected the demand of early resumption of the mining business activities in Goa with much needed amendments in the current MMDR act through ordinance,” the Leader of Opposition has said in a letter to the Governor.
The Congress leader has further said that the people of Goa and the members of the Legislative parties, are
very much disappointed and disgusted with the current decision of the government of India which is not only bleeding the State of Goa
further but also risking, likely social unrest and chaos in the mining
belt of Goa.
Kavlekar said that the current scenario in mining belt is worrisome and requires urgent
intervention from the government of Goa.
