PANJIM: Asserting that the State government will complete the mining auction process of all the 86 mining leases in the State within three months, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the government has witnessed how mining dependent people have suffered after mining was shut down in the State.
Speaking at a Reboot Mining-Heralding New Era function organised by the Directorate of Mines and Geology at Ravindra Bhavan, Sankhali on Sunday to distribute the grant of letters of intent to the successful bidders of four iron ore blocks namely Vedanta, Fomento, Rajaram Bandekar Mines Pvt Ltd and Salgaocar Mining auctioned in the first notice inviting tender.
Sawant said the government was the only one to support the mining dependents through various schemes by way of providing financial aid for two years to truck owners and persons who lost their jobs due to closure of mining. Government also provided Rs 35 lakh for each barge owner under the State government one-time settlement scheme, he added.
The government has consistently followed up the case for revival of the mining industry in the State. The revival will provide employment opportunities in mining areas apart from providing a fillip to boost the overall economy of the State, he pointed out.
Informing that the Supreme Court has granted permission for dump mining, Sawant said the State government is formulating a policy for it. There are various types of dumps in the government as well as private properties and also outside and inside leases. All these dumps which was then rejected ore will be auctioned without hampering the environment. The government is making all efforts to start sustainable mining in the State, he said.
The Chief Minister urged all the four successful bidders to re-employ all those who were rendered jobless during the ban on mining activity.
“We have successfully solved the issue of mining and Mopa airport and the ongoing Mhadei river disputes too will be resolved soon. Mhadei issue has been going on since the past 30 years. The way this issue is legally and technical handled, we will definitely win it, he claimed..
Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar stated that a new era has begun for the mining sector in Goa and all the credit goes to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his government for its success which has witnessed this historic day under his leadership today. Some people were thinking that mining will not start in Goa again but with a lot of hard work by the Chief Minister has made this possible to begun new era of mining in Goa. Minister for Social Welfare Shubash Phal Desai also spoke on the occasion.
The Vedanta Limited had won the bid for Bicholim-Mulgao mining block (North Goa), Salgaocar Shipping Company Pvt Ltd won the bid for Shirigao-Mayem Mineral Block in North Goa. Goa's Rajaram Bandekar Pvt Ltd successfully bagged the bid for Monte-de-Sirigao mining block (North Goa) while the fourth Block comprising Kalay Mines (South Goa) was won by Sociedade De Fomento Industries Private Limited.
Present on the occasion were MLAs Ganesh Gaonkar and Premendra Shet, Principal Secretary (Finance) Dr V Candavelou IAS, Advocate General Devidas Pangam, Director of Mines and Geology Suresh Shanbhogue and other dignitaries.