Preparing budget not possible without mining revocation: CM
PTI, PANAJI | 17 March 2015 15:32 IST
The existing suspension of environment clearances (ECs) of mining leases by the Centre is casting a shadow on budget preparations in Goa, where the Government is pushing for its revocation.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today said the drafting of budget for 2015-16, to be presented on March 25, is not possible without considering revenue from the mining industry, a key source of income for the coastal state.
Talking to reporters, he said the government doesn't want to table the budget without Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) revoking suspension of ECs of mining leases.
The revocation is required for resumption of mining activity in Goa, where iron ore extraction has come to a standstill since the last over two years, adversely affecting the state's economy.
"I spoke to the Minister (Prakash Javadekar). I told him it is high time the suspension of ECs was revoked. We have completed all formalities required from our side," he said.
The Chief Minister said, "I have told him that I don't want to table the budget without this issue being resolved. We want to consider the revenue from the mining industry, without which budget won't be complete."
Parsekar said the MoEF might revoke suspension "any time".
In 2012, then Environment and Forests Minister Jayanti Natarajan had suspended ECs after the Goa government temporarily barred operation of licences over allegations of illegal extraction.
In April last year, the Supreme Court lifted a ban on iron-ore mining but imposed certain conditions.
Drop a comment
Previous Comments
BJP should recover 35 Thousand Corers from Congress and Goa Government should invest in making roads, etc and to give 24x7 water and electricity to each Goan houses.
- Mathew Dias, Goa | 17 th March 2015 16:07
Latest News
- Will probable defectors learn from the 2022 election?
- Rebuilding Which Temples? खंयचीं देवळां बांदतले?
- Deficit budget presented, but no taxes! Each Goan has a Rs 1.46 lakh loan!!
- BJP bottle of ‘imported wine’ wins 20, forming Govt in Goa with ‘professional defectors’
- Why is the Goa Govt treating Konkani Cinema as ‘Kaajro’; a bitter tree?
- Biswajit Personality of the Year of IFFI 20
- Rajini, Big B & Shankar Mahadevan steal the show as IFFI50 opens
- #IFFI2019 all set for IFFI 50 & also IFFIGoa 15
- Not ‘sacred’, a ‘secret’ vote will dominate
- A victim boy exploited by women, ‘Juze’ is a real story: Miransha
Mining
- SC again stops Goa mining from 16 March, orders fresh ECs & recover dues
- NGT orders 25 miners to appear before MoEF, face closure threat
- Fearing another attempt of arrest, Digambar seeks interim bail
- Goa police summons Ex-CM Digambar in mining scam
- Dr Claude supports AAP stand on mining, with objections
- New SC order likely to halt mining of 40 leases, until…
- Centre to hold all-state meet in Goa on illegal mining
- Caurem tribals march to Panaji, approaching SC to expose illegalities
- Will Govt probe both Ravindra and Fomento, if it was a bribe?
- Was crop damage compensation to Caurem shown as extortion by Fomento?
