TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Governor of Goa B V Wanchoo announced that government would pay monthly cash compensation ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 to mining dependent persons, and spend approximately Rs 15 crore monthly for providing interim relief to them through a rehabilitation scheme. Wanchoo was addressing the first session of Goa Legislative Assembly of 2013, which commenced on Monday.
This is a step taken by his government towards ameliorating the sufferings of mining dependent persons, who are currently rendered jobless due to suspension of mining activities, Wanchoo said, during his half hour speech.
The governor outlined the financial and social impact felt by the State due to suspension of mining operations and the various measures proposed by government to provide relief to the affected people.
Governor Wanchoo asserted his government’s commitment to resume legal mining without altering the ecological balance at the earliest. Governor said that the closure of mining has brought about direct and indirect economic losses to the State. “The direct loss on mining royalty is approximately Rs 1,000 crore per annum and indirect loss is Rs 450 crore, which could have found its way to the government treasury had there been no reduction in the disposable incomes of people by virtue of cumulative spending effect,” he said.
Wanchoo informed the House that more than one lakh people, who were engaged in mining activities directly and indirectly have become jobless, needless to mention the family members of these people too have been severely affected.
“The total number of people impacted by the closure (of mining operations) has thus been close to 3.5 lakh. The total loss to the economy is over Rs 20,000 crore given the production and export levels achieved during the financial year 2011-12,” the Governor said, adding that as a small but significant step towards providing relief to mining dependents, the government intends to draw up a rehabilitation package.
Wanchoo said, that the government during its budget speech for financial year 2012-13 had spelt out that 60 per cent of the revenue earned from mining would be committed for infrastructure needs and other requirements of the mining affected people.
“Due to the closure of mining, the requisite resources are not available for the purpose. In spite of this, the government intends to invest heavily on infrastructure in the mining belt and work on devising special schemes to provide relief to those who have been rendered jobless,” he told the House.
The House was informed about the creation of 400 permanent posts of forest guards.
Governor said that government intends to provide monthly cash compensation between Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 to those who were employed in mining related activities and are rendered jobless. The government also intends to spend Rs 15 crore, every month during the calendar year, as an interim relief to all whose livelihood has been affected, by supporting them through rehabilitation schemes.
The Governor also informed that government is in touch with the Prime Minister and Union Finance Minister to push for a special financial package to the State for supporting rehabilitation of mining affected persons.
