Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst financial crisis across various sectors due to COVID-19 pandemic, NGO Goa Foundation has suggested re-commencement of mining operations subject to conditions that it does not damage the environment.
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Goa Foundation director Claude Alvares, in a short video released on Sunday evening, conceded that the ongoing pandemic has affected people involved in the mining and tourism industry.
“It (COVID-19 pandemic) has hit people, who are involved in the mining; it has hit people in the tourism industry. It has also hit people who are coming back from the Gulf countries in a big way and therefore, there is a serious crisis and how we get out of this crisis. Our main contention and our main argument have always been that mining can take care of some of these problems provided that it is done in a way that will benefit everybody,” Alvares said.
He suggested that mining activity can be carried in such a way that the environment is not damaged and that the wealth from mining is not unevenly distributed.
“Now what we are saying is that if mining restarts as it was in the past for so many years, then only a few people will benefit. But if mining starts in a way that Goa Foundation has recommended by setting up a government corporation, employing people for that corporation and giving out contracts for extracting of ore; and doing it (mining) in a sensible manner…,” he said.
“The problem today is that money is going to a few people and damage is being suffered by everybody,” he said.
The NGO that has filed petitions against illegal mining has ‘categorically’ stated they are not against mining.
Alvares said that they are against mining which was carried out in the past.
“This is my central message as far the issue is concerned. This (mining) is our biggest resource and we can use it in a sensible way for the benefit of everybody. But it must be done soon,” he added.
