Rahul Gandhi to assess mining ban in Goa

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi will visit Goa Dec 20 to assess the impact of the mining ban in the state, a state Congress leader said Monday.

Speaking to reporters in Panaji, state Congress president Subhash Shirodkar said Rahul Gandhi would also interact with party members and will address a convention of the Congress-aligned National Students Union of India.

"It will be a one-day visit during which he will be taking stock of the mining situation in Goa from people affected by mining," Shirodkar said.

"We have requested Rahul Gandhi to try and break the deadlock which has emerged ever since mining was banned in Goa," he said.

In October, Goa's mining industry was banned by the Supreme Court, which is hearing a petition filed by lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan. The petition was filed after a Rs.35,000-crore mining scam was exposed by a judicial commission a few months ago.

Goa's Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had said the ban on mining imposed was hurting the state's economy.