the goan I network
MAPUSA
Stating that borrowings by the State government was a matter of concern, Ports Minister Michael Lobo on Saturday said the answer to the State’s financial difficulties was in early resumption of mining operations.
He also disclosed that mining operations could start as early as April as the chief minister has been continuously following up the issue with the central government.
“The State has been borrowing money from the time the ban on mining came into effect in 2012. These borrowings are a matter of concern and that is why the chief minister has been constantly keeping in touch with the Centre so that legal mining can start,” Lobo said.
The ports minister was responding to the media whether the constant borrowings indulged by the government could put the State into a debt trap. Continuing, Lobo stressed on need to start legal mining in the State so that the government can come out from the financial crisis of sorts.
“Legal mining will fetch us revenue. We expect the court to give us some relief on humanitarian grounds so that at least the ore which is already extracted could by mined. We will go by whatever modifications or directions the Supreme Court issues to us,” he said.
He said the State expected to get relief at least in terms of clearing the mining dumps from April onwards.
“The CM has been frequently visiting Delhi in this context and has been speaking to the Solicitor General of India, our lawyers, AG, etc and discussing various ways how to present our case before the Supreme Court. We expect to get some relief in April,” the Ports Minister said.
Lobo also said the government was getting a lot of revenue from tourism industry but expected the industry to buck up and add more to the government’s kitty. He said restarting of mining through the auction route was not as easy as it was made out to be and in fact it would put the government in a further legal tangle. “The mining leases in Goa are valid till 2037. We cannot just go and auction those leases when the lease has been signed and extended by the government,” he said.
