New Goa BJP chief to raise mining, Mhadei row with Centre

Mining ban and inter-state dispute with Karnataka over Mhadei river waters are two big issues confronting the state, according to new Goa Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade.

"We will speak to the central leadership and resolve the issues," said Tanavade, a former MLA, here on Sunday.

Soon after taking over as the Goa BJP chief, Tanavade sought party workers' support for decisions taken by the party as well as the party government.

Mining is banned in Goa since 2018 following a Supreme Court order over irregularities in the state mining lease renewal process.

The Goa government as well as the opposition have expressed concern over Karnataka's Kalasa-Banduri water diversion project being built across the Mhadei river.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said it will wreak "ecological devastation" in Goa. But the project was given go-ahead by the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests recently.IANS