Team Herald

MARGAO: TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai has warned the Chowgule Mining company against retrenching its employees. 

“If the company continues to retrench its employees and fails to take them back, I will make sure that the operation of Chowgule mines doesn’t resume,” Vijai warned.

“If we have put up a good case before the Supreme Court on mining, which we are confident of winning; will these companies keep their mining business shut after that too?” Vijai questioned.

“You have operated mines for so many years; don’t you have the patience to wait for one month and pay salaries to the Employees? In that case, let the local villagers take over the mine or a government corporation take over the mine or let’s just auction the entire ore in the mine. These companies show no social responsibilities,” said the minister venting his anger.

Sympathising the workers who lost their jobs, Vijai said, “The Supreme Court order has made surgical strike on the poor people from the mining belt. This is the very reason that we are giving special focus on the three mining affected constituencies and have passed several works.”

He maintained that no one should celebrate the closure of mining.