Goa’s mining industry took their urgent plea to the Prime Minister on Monday seeking his help to resume mining in the state.

In a memorandum presented to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an organisation representing workers and other mining beneficiaries pleaded “an affirmative political consensus between the state and the central government for urgent and immediate resumption of mineral development operations in Goa.” Mining in the state came to a halt after a Centre-appointed committee raised serious issues with the decade-old practices, government connivance in giving clearances, and other objections. The iron-ore rich state primarily exports its low-grade ore to Chinese steelmakers.