Panaji, July 3 (IANS): Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Sunday said that abandoned and exhausted mining pits should be restored and adapted for environment and hospitality purposes.

"It is necessary to conserve wildlife in mining areas. Fifteen days ago, I went to a Vedanta mine in Sanquelim. They have done restoration well there. Mine owners should see how they have restored deserted and discarded mines and converted them for hospitality and environment projects," Parsekar said.

"If this happens, the environmental balance in Goa will be healthy," Parsekar told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Mining for iron ore in Goa is carried out by digging into massive mountains which are caches of iron ore. The extraction of iron ore leaves behind craters which are several hundred metres in depth. They are usually abandoned by the mining companies.

Parsekar said the government will take "all care" to ensure that full-scale resumption of mining after the monsoon will not disturb the state's environmental balance.