TASK ON HAND
Convincing the Centre to tweak the law so as to validate Goa's mining leases for another nearly 20 years, until 2037
HIS STRENGTH
Known to have built personal equations with most Central ministers when he served in Delhi as Defence Minister
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PANAJI: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is slated to leave for Delhi today (Tuesday) where he will pursue the early resumption of mining by discussing the issue with the Union Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
He is also expected to meet with members of the Group of Ministers handling the matter related to grant of mineral concessions which the new Central law mandates should be done only through auction.
Last week, the Goa legislative assembly unanimously passed a resolution moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nilesh Cabral which mandates the State government to formally request the Centre for an amendment to the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987, which would validate Goa's leases since 1987 instead of 1961.
The strategy relies on the legal opinion that this would breathe life into the mining leases in Goa and make them valid for 50 years until 2037, as per provisions of the Central Mining law.
Parrikar has the daunting task of presenting this view and convincing the Centre to tweak the law so as to validate Goa's mining leases for another nearly 20 years, until 2037.
The dice is heavily loaded against him but the industry and a group representing the mining dependents in Goa is hoping the Chief Minister's profile in Delhi will hold him in good stead. Parrikar is known to have built personal equations with most Central ministers when he served in Delhi as Defence Minister between October 2014 and March 2017.
Besides the mining imbroglio, Parrikar is also expected to pursue a few other issues with the Centre including seeking the personal intervention of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the case of Siolim youth Ryan D'Souza who is jailed in Dubai in a ponzi scheme scam case.
He is expected to return to Goa late on Tuesday itself and his office is in touch with the PMO to see if an audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, can be slotted during the day.
