GMPF delegation meets PM for daily hearing of mining cases

PANAJI: A delegation of Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF) today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi and requested him to convey to the Supreme Court to conduct daily hearing of mining cases, notwithstanding the vacations.

GMPF Convener Suhas Naik told PTI from Delhi that Prime Minister was requested to convey to the SC through the office of Attorney General to conduct day-to-day hearing of the case against mining pending with the apex court.

The case has been listed for hearing in the court on June 10, Naik said.

"The Prime Minister has told us that he will consult the concern ministry and do the needful," he said.

A nine-member delegation of GMPF accompanied by Member of Parliament Francisco Sardinha met Singh this afternoon.

"The PM said that environmental concerns should be addressed seriously while noting that poverty is the biggest polluter," Naik stated.

The Prime Minister told the delegation that all the concerned ministries were working in tandem to ensure early resumption of mining in Goa, he said.

The delegation also met union mines minister Dinshaw Patel and is trying to get an appointment with Congress President Sonia Gandhi.