Team Herald
VASCO: Panchayat Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday claimed the state government has to move forward without any delay to ensure that mining operations resume at the earliest.
“My stand is very clear that mining operations have to recommence as soon as possible. In fact, I think that March 15 deadline given by Supreme Court is really killing,” Godinho told reporters on the sidelines of a site-inspection at Alto Dabolim.
The Supreme Court, on February 7, while cancelling all 88 mining leases renewed by the Goa government had also directed that all ore extraction activity on the renewed leases should stop by March 15.
Those handling the matter in court should have seen that the deadline was not March 15 but end of May, when mining season ends, so that the state government could have done all formalities, he said, adding that if leases had to be auctioned then the same could have been done during the rains.
“But since you cannot command courts and as the court has set the deadline we have to move forward to ensure that mining operations resume. Whether you auction it or whether the Centre is willing to issue ordinance; everybody has to work for a solution,” he said.
, adding that Vasco would come to a standstill if mining stops.
