The soon to-be-graduates are now hopeful that with the government perusing the signing of lease agreements, the prospects of re-starting mining have become brighter and mining will resume shortly.
The Goa Engineering College witnessed few admissions in the initial year of 2012-13 in the mining engineering course. In 2014, seats remained vacant, following suspension of mining operations. However, now there is optimism amongst the students as the lease renewal process has already started giving hope that mining may resume this coming season.
Andrade Delmon, a final year mining engineering student who will graduate early next year is confident that mining will resume in the State. “Mining is the backbone of the Goan economy along with tourism and everybody knows that, so I hope mining resumes in Goa as it will give the much needed boost to the economy that has been crippled due to the ban,” he said.
Delmon also hinted that he might have to move out of Goa in search of a job if the mining industry fails to resume by coming mining season.
Students are also confident that many companies will come in for a major recruitment drive if mining resumes in the State. “There will be jobs in the mining sector for engineers and I feel everyone who passes out next year will be accommodated if mining resumes,” student Suraj Naik said.
K N Subhash, HOD, Mining Engineering at Goa College of Engineering said that there are currently 100 students in the mining engineering course out of which 30 are in the final year, and will pass out next year. “There are apprehensions amongst students due to the mining ban in Goa. There are plenty of opportunities outside Goa and India however many students prefer working in Goa, so it is a tricky situation,” he added. Subhash said that the companies will be visiting the college for placements later this month, only then we will get a clear picture as to how many students are placed in mining firms in Goa.
