the goan I network
PANAJI
A delegation of the Goa Mining People’s Front on Thursday called on Union Minister Nitin Gadkari even as the delegation sought to step up efforts to pressurise the government to take action on the ‘legislative cure’ which they claim is necessary to restart mining in Goa.
The GMPF delegation which was led by its president Puti Gaonkar, was informed that the matter was being taken up at the highest levels in government.
“Gadkari told us that he spoke to a secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Nripendra Mishra, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Narendra Singh Tomar, the Union Mines Minister asking them to take the matter forward,” Gaonkar informed.
Meanwhile, the three Members of Parliament representing Goa are also camping in Delhi as the BJP seeks to step up efforts to have an amendment to the central Acts to restart mining. The trio -- Vinay Tendulkar, Narendra Sawaikar and Shripad Naik -- are expected to meet a host of BJP leaders including BJP national president Amit Shah in a bid to press for a resolution.
Sources in the State administration have revealed that the winter session of Parliament is the last opportunity for Goa to have the amendments passed, with General Lok Sabha elections looming on the horizon and any delay could see the code of conduct preventing any such decision.
It may be recalled that Minister of Town and Country
