Team Herald
PANJIM: As the Central government calls for a high-level meeting in Delhi next month over the mining issue in Goa, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is confident of a solution by July end to restart mining activities, which have been suspensed since March last year.
Sawant on Wednesday met a delegation of Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) and informed the delegation that mining was discussed at the NITI Ayog meeting last week presided over by the Prime Minister wherein all Chief Ministers has bought out that the issue is unique for each state and hence cannot be generalised.
“CM said that he has stressed that Goa has suffered the most and was able to convince them that an immediate solution is required,” GMPF said in a statement issued after the meeting.
Sawant informed them of the Central government calling for a high level special meeting in July involving on SGI Tushar Mehta, Union Ministers of Mines, Law, Home and Prime Minister (if necessary) and others required to discuss and find a suitable solution vetted legally or for amendment as the case may be.
“He will not hold back solutions like corporation or auctioning if the situation stretches to that extent,” GMPF said.
On the sustenance allowance to stakeholders who have lost their livelihood (till mining restarts), the CM said he will ensure that solutions will be in place by July end and as such no allowance will be considered.
On e-auction of ore lying at various places, the CM said it will be done shortly and asked stakeholders not to create any hindrance for ore transport so that the e-auction is sucessful and stakeholders benefit.
They said the CM also agreed to look into extending the date of debt relief scheme for barges and trucks. On retrenchment of mining employees, CM has mentioned to the mining companies that they will have to take back the employees when mining restarts.
