Will resume mining if Supreme Court lifts ban: Manohar Parrikar

Mining operations in Goa can resume immediately if the Supreme Court lifts the ban it had imposed earlier and the Union government revokes suspension of mandatory environmental clearances, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said today.

"I had stopped mining operations, which can be started within five minutes once mining companies submit the required documents," Parrikar said while addressing a press conference here.

Parrikar also rubbished Congress' claims that he had taken the credit for stoppage of mining activity in the coastal state, which has affected more than one lakh people. "I have never made a statement that I banned mining in Goa...Had I banned it, I would not have allowed e-auctioning of the ore," the Chief Minister said. The Supreme Court had banned mining and transportation of ore in the State in October 2012 following allegations of irregularities. "It's a known fact that SC stopped mining activity," Parrikar said, referring to e-auctioning of the stacked ore which was permitted by the apex court.

Parrikar said the swift move made by the Congress-led Union government to suspend environment clearances (ECs) of mining leases, plunged them into crisis. "If SC withdraws the ban I will permit mining, subject to the condition that ECs have to be issued," he added.