PANJIM: Raising serious concern over the prolonged delay, mining dependents have appealed the Supreme Court for urgent consideration of the Goa iron ore mining case before the court closes for summer vacation from May 15 onwards.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) said the Central government will have to opt for legislative cure to resolve mining imbroglio if Supreme Court fails to hear the matter before May 15.
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“The mining case is pending before the Supreme Court for over a year without a single hearing. This appears that the serious livelihood crises of the Goa State is being ignored by the Court where over 3 lakh people are suffering due to complete disruption of their livelihoods,” GMPF leader Puti Gaonkar said.
GMPF has appealed State as well as the Central Governments to plead before the Court for urgent hearing date before it closes for summer vacation from May 15 onwards.
“Or else the Central Government has to consider a legislative cure to resolve the issue. This is needed to stop the further economic collapse of the State,” Gaonkar said.
GMPF said in this economic crisis due to COVID19, the Central Government has to consider legislative amendment rather than wait for the Supreme Court to decide on the fate of over 3 lakh mining dependents.
“There is need for more determination by State government to get intervention of Central government for legislative cure to resolve the livelihood matter. It’s disheartening that the Central government is not showing any willingness to consider Goa government’s request for amendments to The Goa Daman Diu Concession Abolition Act, 1987 to make it prospective to restart mining in Goa,” Gaonkar charged.
“If it was any other State suffering so much the Central Government would be forced to intervene for a solution. We fail to understand why Goa is neglected like this,” he questioned.
Gaonkar said the State Mining Corporation idea to study the reserves and operational feasibility of non-working leases is a very good decision by the Chief Minister as a long term strategy but the need of the hour is to immediately restore the livelihood by restarting mining activities.
