There is no reason to shed tears on the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Amendment Ordinance 2014 as the 64 iron ore leases that were operational prior to their suspension have plundered the natural resources of our State to the tune of Rs 34,000 crore as per the MB Shah Commission Report.
In fact, the present government should step hard on the accelerator to recover from the guilty mine owners, what rightfully belongs to Goans, and utilize the same to tide over the State’s present revenue crunch. The people who have looted our natural resources, deserve no pity, but my heart goes to all those hundreds of families of ordinary mining contract workers whose kitchen fires were kept burning by the mining industry. Is there anyone to hear the cries, and wipe the tears of the mining contract labour community and soothe their pain?
Glocerio Fernandes, Velim
