TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Welcoming the Supreme Court order on resumption of iron ore mining in the State, stakeholders related to the activity have appealed to the State and Central governments to collectively work towards resumption of mining before the monsoons, since the rains will further paralyze their business.
After the 18-month ban, the apex court on Monday brought relief to over lakhs of mining-dependent people and other stakeholders by allowing mining to resume with several provisos including 20 million metric tonnes fresh extraction annually.
“The State and Central governments should work together to restart mining as soon as possible. People have gone through the ordeal for several months,” Goa Mining People’s Front Convenor Suhas Naik said.
Naik said that the mining activity should start immediately before commencement of the monsoon season.
He said that the SC order needs to be analyzed properly. “The issue is that the order says 20 MT annual cap. Will the industry be able to survive with this cap?” he questioned, adding that the decision on export of dumps should be taken immediately.
The Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) has refused to comment on the order stating that the judgment needs to be studied, while Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said that the lifting of ban is a big relief to all those dependent on mining.
“The lifting of the ban does not however mean that we can start operations tomorrow and start exporting from the day after. Court had laid down quite a few conditions and all will be clear within next few days,” GCCI president Narayan Bandekar said. Thanking the State government for all the efforts, GCCI has urged government to set up proper regulatory mechanism at the state level to ensure that SC orders are strictly followed.
Both the barge and truck owners have welcomed the decision stating that the government should ensure that everyone gets equal business in the trade after the operations recommence.
