Today, when India is undergoing a series of social, political, and economic shifts, which are reshaping the nation’s socio-economic fabric, it is necessary to examine afresh how economic and social development can become a reality. Revisiting the constructs of the essential Indian superstructure is important. To start with, the state of mining in India, a very tough and high on human demand industry must be relooked at and its challenges addressed keeping in mind its many complexities.
Mining as an integral and dynamic sector can play a more strategic role in shaping India’s robust development. This is particularly so since everything that is good for the country’s growth comes from within the earth. Currently, mining is facing its lowest time in India. One of the examples of this is Goa where 3,00,000 people who are dependent on mining have become the face of livelihood loss. Ever since the Supreme Court abruptly cancelled 88 mining leases in the State, life has come to grinding halt for the dependents.
Mining has been on and off in the State from the past seven years and based on delays and instability in resumption of operations in Goa, the government isn’t hesitant of forming a State-owned corporation. The corporation according to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is one of the last resorts to restart mining. The late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in February 2018 categorically ruled out forming of any mining corporation in Goa.
Currently, Goa is indebted with Rs 20,000 crore and both tourism and mining are witnessing their worst phase. Mining is at a standstill for two years and tourism has been impacted widely due to COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of coronavirus will take at least three to four quarters to fade and for tourism to return to normalcy. The estimated job loss due to a dip in the tourism sector is around 75,000, which again is a huge number for a State with population of 14,00,000.
Forming a corporation is sheer diversion from the core issue of livelihood and would only stretch the matter for a year or more. People of Goa need their livelihoods and jobs back as soon as the lockdown is lifted. The lives of Goans cannot be kept on an edge any longer. It would be advisable for the Central and State authorities to adequately present the facts and concerns of people to the Supreme Court for immediate actions to be taken
The iron ore mining industry in Goa has been facing a lot of environmental issues brought up by NGOs. They have fought cases against the sector up to highest court. There is no reason to believe that their approach to a government enterprise will be any different.
Thus, starting iron ore mining by the State government will be a waste of public funds as well as inviting problems which they are ill-equipped to handle. A perfect example of this is the e-auction of 16 million tonnes from February 2014 till date. It may be noted that only 11 million tonnes have been sold in the space of six years.
The essence of the government should be seen as a regulator and as a regulator it is essential that the government should ensure timely clearances to projects and extend a supporting arm to the industry for sustainability.
