WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Looking for immediate relief, 26 village panchayats from the mining belt have approached the Supreme Court with an interlocutory application (IA) seeking impleadment in the Goa mining case, which has been listed for hearing on August 18.
The representatives, along with their counsel Adv Amey Kakodkar, on Thursday called on Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik seeking his intervention to urge the Central government for steps towards immediate resumption of mining activities, claiming that the closure of the industry has taken a toll on the ‘economic and mental health of the people dependent on the industry’.
Speaking to media persons following the meeting with the Governor, Kakodkar confirmed that 26 panchayats have moved the Supreme Court seeking impleadment in the mining cases, related to challenging the Abolition Act.
Kakodkar said that the meeting with the Governor was to apprise him about the IA filed by the panchayats that in the past had submitted a representation to him. “Governor is positive to our request. He is of the opinion that mining resumption is the only option for revival of State economy in the current pandemic,” he said.
Speaking about IA, Kakodkar said the application has highlighted that from 26 villages, 1.5 lakh people are dependent on mining for their livelihood. “Mining has been the source of income for several generations now. And as such, they have no other alternative source of income,” he said.
He said that the banks operating in the mining belt are also suffering as loans have turned into non performing assets (NPAs) with the people dependent on the industry selling out majority of their assets to eke out a living.
Kakodkar said there are serious mental depression issues in the mining belt due to which instances of domestic violence are on the rise.
He said that immediate resumption of mining is a solution to address the problems. “We have already lost lot of time. If you lose more time, then the situation will go out of hand,” he said.
