Team Herald
PANJIM: Days after alliance partner, Goa Forward’s Vijai Sardesai, met Union Minister Suresh Prabhu seeking the early resumption of mining operations in the State, the Goa BJP Legislature wing has decided to call on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Group of Ministers on the same issue.
BJP State president Vinay Tendulkar said, “Four of our (BJP) State ministers, three MPs, Speaker and Dy Speaker will meet the PMO. We will seek an appointment with them now,” Tendulkar said after the meeting.
Earlier, BJP MLA and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo had told reporters that Tendulkar had been mandated with the task of seeking an appointment with the Prime Minister’s Office.
“During the meeting today, it was decided that we should once again meet the Prime Minister pleading his intervention in the issue. The PM will be urged to raise the issue in the Union cabinet,” Lobo said.
He conceded that the patience of the people dependent on the mining industry has been running out. “The closure of the mining industry is affecting people from North as well as South. There is urgent need to resume this activity,” he said.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had on August 8, 2018 met the Prime Minister briefing him about the issue. The Supreme Court order of February 7, 2018 has brought the entire mining sector to a standstill, affecting the livelihood of around three lakh people.
