Sawant meets PM seeks legislative 'cure' for mining issue

    (Eds: Adds details, CM's quotes)
    Panaji, Sep 30 (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant
on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and
discussed a host of issues related to the coastal state,
including resumption of iron ore mining stalled since 2018.
    Later in the evening, Sawant said restarting of iron
ore mining is crucial for the economy of the coastal state and
an important meeting is scheduled on October 10 in New Delhi
over the issue.
    The CM said he has also sought legislative support
from the Centre to resolve the mining impasse.
    The iron ore extraction industry in Goa came to a halt
in 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed the renewal of 88
mining leases, which had undergone second renewal in 2015.
    After meeting the PM, Sawant tweeted, "Called on
Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji in New
Delhi today. Had fruitful discussion on various matters,
including mining."
    The Goa CM said he also met Union Mines Minister
Pralhad Joshi.
    "Later, met the Union Minister of Mines Shri
@JoshiPralhad ji along with the Secretary to discuss the
mining matter at length. We are hopeful of a positive outcome
in coming days," Sawant said.
    In a video message released after his arrival here on
Wednesday evening, Sawant said top mining officials along with
Goa Advocate General Devidas Pangam would be holding a meeting
in New Delhi over the subject on October 10.
    "After that, a ministerial-level meeting would be held
on October 15. We have asked the Prime Minister and the Centre
to provide legislative cure to the problem, the BJP leader
said.
    Taking potshots at the Congress, Sawant said its
government had delayed second renewal of mining leases in
2007, which caused the current impasse.
    The 2015 second renewal was questioned by the SC
because it was done in a hurried manner by the then Laxmikant
Parsekar-led BJP government, due to a delay in undertaking the
process under the Congress rule, ahead of amendment tothe
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, he said.
    The Chief Minister said the Congress-led government,
in 2007, delayed the process of second renewal of mining
leases.
    If the Congress had renewed the leases in time in the
year 2007, then the industry would not have seen such days,
Sawant said.
    Congress leader Digambar Kamat was Goa chief minister
between 2005 and 2012. PTI RPS GK
RSY RSY

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)