TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has urged the people living in the mining belt to explore alternate sources of income rather than totally depend on mining related activities.
“We have to stop depending on mining fully. Check for alternate source of income like farming and dairy. It is flourishing now,” he said, addressing a large crowd of mining affected people at Secretariat Tuesday morning.
“If I tell you the number of government schemes provided for farming and dairies, then you will faint. We have paid farmers under various schemes,” he added.
In the same breadth he assured that that State government will try to restart the mining activity by this year.
“We want to start mining from this year itself. The new bench of Supreme Court will hear Goa’s case by April end,” Parrikar, who is also holding Mines portfolio, said. In the meantime, he said, the government wants to start exporting dumps.
Parrikar was speaking during the distribution of sanction letters to around 100 truck owners, who are the beneficiaries of the government’s Umbrella Scheme for people affected by mines closure. The scheme provides financial help to tide over the current crisis faced by them. The government plans to cover around another 2000 persons under the scheme by May-end.
As a result of the scheme, the truck owners will earn Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 per month. The chief minister said that nominated HDFC Bank will be disbursing the money to beneficiaries. “The money will be deposited by April 15 (in beneficiaries
accounts), latest by April 20. In case it is delayed, we will conduct (an) inquiry,” he commented.
Industries Minister Mahadev Naik, Sanquelim MLA Pramod Sawant, Savordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar, Director of Mines and Geology Department Pramod Acharya and others were present at the function.
