PANJIM: An all-party delegation is likely to call on the Central government on Sunday, March 4, seeking its intervention in ensuring that iron ore mining activities continue in the State after March 15.
In this regard, a crucial all-party meeting has been called by the government on Thursday. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who will not be part of the meeting due to his illness, has issued directions to Speaker of Dr Pramod Sawant and Senior PWD Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar to chair the meeting and seek views of all parties on the issue.
The ruling coalition – BJP, MGP, Goa Forward and
Independents – along with Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will be part of the meeting, which will be held on Thursday evening.
The Supreme Court, via an order dated February 7, quashed second renewals granted to 88 iron ore mining leases, while directing them to stop operations after March 15. The State and Central governments have been directed to initiate a fresh process for grant of leases.
Speaking to Herald, Sawant confirmed that an all-party meeting has been called on Thursday to work out a solution to the mining crisis, which will hit the State from March 16 onward. “The meeting has been called following directions from the Chief Minister. He briefed me and Minister Dhavalikar to have a meeting and take everyone into confidence,” he said.
However, the Speaker declined to state the government’s likely future course of action. “That will be decided at tomorrow’s meeting,” he commented.
Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar confirmed to Herald that the government is likely to take an all-party delegation to Delhi on Sunday, seeking the Centre’s intervention in resolving the problem.
“I got call from Dhavalikar informing about the meeting scheduled tomorrow. He said the government is of the view that a delegation be taken to the Centre. In that regard we want to consult all parties, he said,” Kavlekar said.
During the recent Budget Session, MLAs were unanimous that the government should either file a review petition in the Supreme Court or approach the Centre for help.
Following Apex Court order, the Chief Minister had held a meeting with MLAs from the mining belt, which had remained inconclusive. The second round of the meeting was scheduled on February 24. However, it was called off following the Chief Minister’s medical condition.
