Panaji, Oct 26 (IANS): Goa Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai said on Thursday that he would press with the Centre to issue an ordinance resuming mining in Goa, banned by the Supreme Court since March this year.

"The ordinance is the only way to resume mining. I am heading for Delhi soon where I will be meeting Union Minister for Industries Suresh Prabhu, who is a part of the group of ministers appointed by the Prime Minister to resolve the mining issue," Sardesai told reporters.

The mining issue has been hanging fire in Goa ever since the apex court banned extraction and transportation of iron ore from 88 mining leases from March, while also directing the state government to re-issue mining leases.

This the second time in less than a decade that all mining in the state has come to a standstill.

The government as well as the Opposition has urged the Manohar Parrikar-led administration to work out ways to resume mining at the earliest.