PONDA: The Federation of All Goa Barge, truck, and Machine Owners Association, formed after 2012 mining ban, came together again after fresh crisis of mining closure in Goa following the Feb.7 Supreme Court order. The association held a meeting to discuss the suffering of mining dependents and their families after mining closure on March 16, 2018. It was unanimously decided that State and Central Government should immediately take action to continue the mining in Goa by whatever means, measures or solution whether auction or any other method as government may think suitable and if necessary government should even convince the Supreme Court of India about what would be the plight of mining dependent in case of mining closure. If the government fails the mining dependents, the meeting warned government of totally paralysing Goa in coming days.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Machine Owners president Sandeep Parab said they are in great trouble and a worse future awaits them.
“We will declare the date about our agitation to paralyse Goa in a few days but before that the mining dependent associations will meet South Goa MP Adv. Narendra Savoikar on Sunday (March 11). On March 12 we will meet the three-member Cabinet Committee led by PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, and Minister Francis D’Souza and will ask them what plans they have made to continue mining,” said Parab.
He also said the workers employed in mining companies and all mining dependents will hold massive meeting on March 16 in North Goa and on March 17 in South Goa. All Goa Truck Owners President Nilkant Gawas said next couple of days they will create awareness among mining dependents as many of them are not aware that mines are going to close from March 16. The mining dependents alleged the government failed to present before the Supreme Court of India the cases of thousands of dependents, employees working in various mining companies after the ban.
Parab said they are not against the recovery of revenues from mining companies. “Our main demand is since many decades our only source of livelihood is mining and that it should continue. Besides, the mining dependents have also planned to file a petition in the Supreme Court to protect their livelihood.”
