Panji, Aug 27 (TNN): Those pushing for the resumption of mining activities in Goa, got an inkling of a breather on Monday, when the Supreme Court, heeding the pleas made before it, stated it would consult the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for listing the state's mining case for continuous hearing.

Sources said that when the petitions came before the bench, the respondents urged it to hear the case continuously. They opined that the matter would require at least two weeks of continuous hearings. tnn

Replying to this, the bench said it would place the matter before the CJI for listing for two weeks of continuous hearing.

The Goa Mining Peoples' Front, meanwhile, gearing up for a rally in Panaji on August 29, has threatened to stop central government officials from entering their offices if mining in not resumed in the state within a month from Ganesh Chaturthi.

Addressing reporters, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) general secretary Christopher Fonseca said both the state and central governments should come together and make it clear before the apex court that they want to restart legal mining in Goa.

He urged chief minister Manohar Parrikar, leader of opposition Pratapsingh Rane and other MLAs to participate in the massive rally and show the people of the state that they are in favour of starting legal mining in the state.

Mining activities have been shut down in Goa since September 2012.