Team Herald
PANJIM: Failing to obtain a satisfactory reply from the government on floor of the House, the protesting mining dependents on Wednesday threatened a massive agitation on March 16. They are also expecting a resolution to be moved on the last day of the ongoing Assembly session on Thursday.
“Today we held a dharna which included all mining dependent people in which many MLAs came and told us that they would support us and pass a resolution in the House and send it to the Centre but that did not happen and we faced humiliation. Our next step will be a drastic one as we will plan a massive agitation on March 16 if our demands are not fulfilled,” All Goa Mining Machinery Owners Association secretary Mahesh Angle said after attending the Assembly session.
Around 1500 mining dependents, including truck owners, mining workers and their families protested at Azad Maidan, Panjim on Wednesday, demanding early resumption of mining in the State and that the government files a review petition in the Supreme Court.
“We are against the auctioning of mining leases. Stoppage of mining industry will result in losing our livelihood and if they are auctioned they might be run by other mine owners resulting in uncertainty of employment to existing workers,” South Goa Progressive Truck Owners’ Association secretary Satyawan Gaonkar said.
Gaonkar said that as per the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concession (Abolition and Declaration of Mining Leases) Act, 1987, mining concessions had been converted into the leases. “Under this Act, the leases are given for exploration for 50 years, which means their life will end in 2037,” he said.
All Goa Truck Owners Association president Nilkanth Gawas said, “This critical situation has arrived due to lack of mining policy in the State. Our demand is that mining should be started at any cost and the government passes an ordinance to implement this Act, which will make SC judgment ineffective. Our next protest will be drastic if demands are not met.”
MLAs from different parties rushed to Azad Maidan to interact with the agitating mining dependents in the afternoon. MLAs Ravi Naik, Pratapsingh Rane, Babu Kavlekar, Nilesh Cabral, South Goa MP Narendra Savaikar addressed the gathering, while Rajesh Patnekar, Dipak Pavaskar and Prasad Gaonkar also met the agitators. The protestors concluded their meet after assurances of quick action from the MLAs.
“We don’t have any option other than mining, some people went to the court and stopped the mining business, and they do not have proper knowledge of mining business. We request the government to file a review petition in the Supreme Court and also all MLAs should support mining activities. Mining should start as soon as possible,” Rane said.
Cabral, addressing the mining dependents said they should individually write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Goa’s conditions. “Now central government is decentralising coal mining as it has realised that it can’t run coal mining. Similarly it is not possible for the government to form a corporation and run mining,” Cabral said.
Kavlekar, addressing the mining dependents said, “The government should file a review petition in the Supreme Court. Also there was no mention of mining in the Governor’s address. Do not stop mining activities after March 15 and I urge the government to find a way to continue the mining activities after the date set by the Supreme Court.”
Later, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said, “My Party and my personal view is that Goan mines should remain with Goans only.” Sardesai said that the government will try to work out a way to protect Goan interests.
Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte said, “We are with the sentiments of the people involved with mining activities. Mining issue is a matter of concern and needs to be resolved through a proper forum or through a Cabinet decision so as to ensure that mining resumes immediately.” He too was of the opinion that mining should remain with Goans.
