Goa mining industry should restart soon to save jobs: Experts

, May 30: The

government should expedite processes for resuming

in the state as several lakhs of youth are jobless after closure of the industry almost two years ago, experts said today.

"More than a month has passed since the Supreme Court order lifted the mining ban in Goa but there is still no clear picture when exactly mining would commence," Goa's first IAS officer (now retired) and former Chairman of the Mormugao Port Trust Aravind Bhatikar said.

In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court had allowed mining in the state with several riders, leaving it for the Goa state government to resume mining. While lifting the mining ban, the Supreme Court had observed that mining concessions became leases of leasees in Goa on November 22, 1987 and with the 20-year maximum renewal period had also come to an end on November 22, 2007.

"Since leasees have to follow many procedures with Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF), Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and other agencies of the Goa state government to get all required permission, licences and consents, it is absolutely necessary to expedite the process of granting leases," Bhatikar said.

"If these things are not initiated immediately, it may take a long time before mining operations could resume in Goa," he said. Echoing views, former DG of Directorate General of Mines Safety Satish Puri said that mining is a highly regulated industry in India, dependent on various permissions and clearances. "Mining is characterised by high income generators for the state, which requires stable and long period policies from the state, for inclusive growth," he said.

PTI