Team Herald
PORVORIM: Legislators from the ruling and opposition benches demanded that the govt resumes the crisis-stricken mining sector at the earliest to ensure that livelihood of the dependents are not affected any further. The House also sought the govt’s intervention into the retrenchment of workers from the mining companies.
BJP MLA Subhash Shirodkar stated that closure of the mining industry has largely affected several thousand dependents. “Six talukas have been impacted owing to the mining closure. The impact is so bad that it has also affected families on the economic, social and education front. While dependents are already facing problems, the mining companies have begun terminating workers’ jobs,” he said, while explaining the plight of the dependents.
He requested that CM Pramod Sawant seeks details on the number of retrenched workers and their current living conditions. “We request to resume mining urgently,” he stated.
Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte recalled that the House had resolved twice to resume mining but there has been no ray of hope yet.
“We have only been hearing stories. CM should give a clear stand on his intention in terms of mining,” he said demanding openness from the govt regarding its plan to resume mining.
BJP MLA Pravin Zantye also referred to the massive retrenchment of workers and demanded for schemes to help the dependents.
LoP Digambar Kamat also echoed the views while seeking to know if the govt was contemplating granting some relief packages to retrenched workers and other dependents.
“There are many options before the govt to solve the issue. The workers are being removed by the companies in view of the mining closure. The govt should force the companies to take these workers back,” he added.
