TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Reiterating that legal mining will start in Goa by December, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday defended the government decision to extend the financial package to the truck and barge owners, saying the same was necessary to provide relief to the players before the commencement of mining operations.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the silver jubilee anniversary of Rosary College, Navelim, at the Ravindra Bhavan on Friday, Parrikar said that mining operations will not take off without the players such as the truck owners and barge owners given the package. “The government had deemed fit to extend the package since they require it very badly because of the loans. How will the barge owners brace up to start the mining activity unless they keep their vessels in operational condition. Around 50 per cent of the barges have corroded for want of business and they are not in an operational condition”,
Parrikar said.
