PONDA: The closure of mining in the State is expected to affect over 10,000 people directly and 2000 people indirectly.
Those directly affected are 4500 employees who fear that they would be laid off by their respective companies, while over 5000 truckers would be rendered workless.
It is learnt that Fomento, V M Salgaonkar, Pandurang Timble, Vedanta and S Narvekar mines operating in Dharbandora taluka and together they employ 2500 workers — fifty percent locals and remaining migrants. Vedanta’s Codli mine is the biggest in the taluka and company employs more than a thousand workers.
Four companies operate in Bicholim taluka and they are Chogule, V M Salgaonkar, Sesa, Fomento; these companies have employed more than 2000 workers.
Further, there are more than 5,000 truckers are operating in the mining belt; besides, there are over 2000 small businessmen such as tea stall owners, garage operators, hotels, spare parts shops, bars, servicing centres and tyre remoulding workshops that are dependent on mining.
