BICHOLIM: In a major decision, the Advalpal residents in Bicholim taluka have demanded that rather than forming a corporation, the government should give them the authority to carry out mining.
This decision was taken at the recently held gram sabha wherein, majority of the residents demanded that if the mines in their village are to be restarted they should be given the sole authority to run the affairs of the mining.
The gram sabha passed a resolution on the same.
“If, at a future date, the mines are restarted, then, rather than auctioning the mining leases in Advalpal, the government should hand over the mines to the locals,” an Advalpal resident Anand Gad demanded.
Advalpal had been a place of rampant mining till it was stopped. And in 2008, a mining pit breached and the sludge had entered the fields and houses.
During the gram sabha, the residents highlighted the loss suffered by the villagers due to mining and also asked for compensation from the government and the mining company.
The villagers reiterated that they are capable of forming an organisation and carry out mining. They stated that most of the problems would be solved only if the residents are given full rights of the natural resources in the village.
The villagers also demanded that government should give them Rs 20 crore from North Goa District Mining Fund.
