Team Herald
PANJIM: While the ongoing mining crisis continues to haunt the BJP-led government, the party is confident that mining activity will resume by the next season.
“Mining should start early. This activity anyway comes to a standstill during the monsoon. I am sure mining operations will resume by next (mining) season,” Union minister Shripad Naik told reporters on the sidelines of a conference to spell out the achievements of the Narendra Modi-led government.
The minister was responding to a question on how BJP would convince lakhs of mining dependents – facing a threat to their livelihood due to the mining ban – ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. “It is a question of their livelihood. If no method works out, the last option would be an ordinance. BJP is trying its level best to ensure people dependent on mining are not left out,” he said and added that work on resolving the crisis is on a fast track.
Earlier, BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar said the State government has decided to file a review petition in the Court and the Centre has extended its support. “We have full faith in judiciary. The solution to the issue will be worked out through Court soon,” he had said on Friday. Tendulkar had, however, ruled out an ordinance to resume mining in Goa.
Asked about Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai’s outburst that the regional party will not support the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls if mining operations don’t resume, Naik stated that the State minister is aware of BJP’s efforts to solve the matter. GFP is a coalition partner in the BJP-led government in the State.
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Rs 30k cr from Centre for projects in Goa, says Shripad
With Goa considered as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lucky charm, his government at the Centre has funded over Rs 30,000 crore for various projects in the State.
“In the four years, a lot of developmental works and schemes have been introduced across the nation. For Goa, over Rs 30,000 crore have been given for various works,” Union Minister Shripad Naik said, while highlighting the achievements of Modi’s four years at the Centre.
Goa has witnessed a number of ongoing infrastructural projects while many more are in the pipeline. Goa will also host the World Conference Day on Yoga at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium this year.
