PANJIM: The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has urged Governor Satya Pal Malik to request Centre to bring in immediate legislative cure to resume iron ore mining activities in the State in order to boost the economy, which has been hit hard due to current COVID-19 pandemic.
GCCI President Manoj Caculo along with Goa Barge Owners Association President Atul Jadav called on the Governor on Friday with their plea to safeguard the livelihood of lakhs of people, who are directly or indirectly dependent on the mining industry for their survival.
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“The current lockdown due to pandemic COVID-19 has aggravated the difficulties of the mining dependents in the State. During this tough time, we request you to urge the Centre to play its legislative role on an urgent basis and provide the necessary relief, so that the mining activities are resumed, which will provide a much-awaited relief to the major industry and also boost the economy of the State,” Caculo said in the representation.
He informed the Governor that after the stoppage of mining activities in March 2018, many people, who were directly employed in the industry, were retrenched and as a consequence, they lost their jobs.
“Small entrepreneurs such as truck, barge and machinery owners have lost their only source of income and are left clutching at the straws to safeguard their livelihood. Thousands of unskilled labourers, drivers, and mechanics have lost their only source of income,” Caculo said.
He added that after mining activities were stopped, the dependent population had resorted to various measures to highlight their plight and demand for the immediate resumption of mining activities.
Caculo further stated the State government made several pleas to the Ministries concerned at the Centre to take appropriate steps to bring about the necessary legislative cure to synchronise and bring in a harmony between the two Acts — the MMDR Act and the Goa Daman and Diu Mining Concession (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act 1987, so that the date of grant of the lease for the mining concessions be extended till 2037.
