Team Herald
PANJIM: Pleading for the immediate resumption of iron ore mining activities in the State, people dependent on the mining sector for their survival, urged the Central and State governments for monthly financial support to secure their livelihoods in the absence of revenue from mining business.
The dependents, including truck owners, barge owners, machinery owners, shipyard workers and other ancillary activity operators, demanded that the government either settle their loan amount by taking it over or freeze it till mining activities restart. They also demanded that the government extend the Debt Relief Scheme for loan borrowers beyond March 31.
Leaders of various mining dependent associations on Tuesday held a series of meetings with Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Cabinet Advisory Committee members Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar, Vijai Sardesai and Francis D’Souza highlighting their plight and demanding the urgent intervention to ensure resumption of mining activities.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA) President Nilkant Gawas said the Union Minister has been requested to start mining activities at the earliest in order to maintain and protect their families and their livelihood. “Mining has been the only source of income for the people from the mining belt. Sudden closure of the industry has created havoc in our lives,” he said.
If resumption of mining activities is not possible at the earliest, then government should at least settle our loan amount by taking it over or extend the debt relief scheme, he said. “When mining resumed in 2015, people again went for loan to repair the vehicles. Now we are under heavy loan burden,” truck owners said.
“Also to ensure there is a monthly income generated in every family, government should provide a financial package to the people till mining activities restart,” Gawas said, adding, ‘Or else we will have no other option than to die of hunger. There is complete darkness before us with the government being the only hope”.
Gawas also urged the government to put up their plight before the Supreme Court judges, who delivered the judgment of mining stoppage in the State.
Barge owners, reeling under a loan burden of Rs 109 crore, too had a similar demand. “This is the only business for our survival. There are 184 operational barges with total Rs109 crore outstanding loans. We have demanded that the government either freeze the loans or take over the loans till mining activities resume. Once mining resumes, we can settle the loan amount,” Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) President Raymond De Sa said.
Demanding a further extension to the debt relief scheme, De Sa said that under the scheme, government had waived off 30 percent of the principal amount, however, cooperative banks did not grant them any benefit. “Almost Rs 79 crore loan amount is outstanding in cooperative banks. We want the government to issue directions to cooperative banks in this regard,” he said.
Desa also said that the Supreme Court judgment was in respect with 88 leases, which were granted second renewals. “There are other leases, which were not renewed. Government should look into the legal part and start those mines. We have no problem with auction. But mining has to resume,” he stated.
The dependents also brought to the notice of the Union Minister about the retrenchment policy that mining companies will adopt due to closure of business. “Government should also grant protection to such people. Directions should be issued to mining companies and port not to retrench workers,” dependents said.
Mormugao mining dependent forum, mining workers forum, Shipping Agents Association, Stevedores Association, were others who petitioned Gadkari.
Amidst this, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) urged Gadkari to form a State owned mining corporation to run and operate mining leases in Goa as the minerals belong to the State and government is the owner.
