Goa suffering badly due to halt in mining, drop in tourism; borrowing up to Rs 400 cr/month: Min

With mining, backbone of Goa's ecomy, coming to a standstill and tourism also taking a hit due to pandemic, state is suffering bly and is borrowing up to Rs 400 crore every month, state Power Minister Nilesh Cabral has said.

"Today state is borrowing Rs 300-Rs 400 crore every month to sustain," minister said during a webinar.

Stating that mining, which is backbone of its ecomy, has come to a standstill, minister said tourism sector has also suffered on account of COVID-19 crisis.

"...our share of GST takes time to come. It should be every month because state is suffering bly. Centre does t give us loan. y give us borrowing limits. We are using all borrowing limits," he stressed.

state's socio-ecomic situation is "hard pressed" on account of halt of mining operations, Cabral said, ding mining leases have been renewed across country except in Goa.

Centre h in vember said it is keen on finding a solution to Goa mining issue as it is core ecomic activity of state.

Mining operations in Goa came to a grinding halt in March 2018 after Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases.

Union Mines Minister Pralh Joshi h said mining is crucial for Goa but at same time, re is a judicial order.

Centre is looking at issue and is positive about finding a solution, he h ded.

Mining dependents in Goa h earlier me an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention to protect livelihood of lakhs of people in state.