PANJIM: With less than fortnight before the iron ore mining industry comes to a standstill in the State, stakeholders are keeping their fingers crossed and pinning their hopes on the all-party delegation scheduled to meet Union ministers on Monday seeking a way out.
There is also the possibility of aggrieved dependents resorting to a mass protest if the government fails to work out a solution ensuring that mining activities continue in the State after March 15.
The Supreme Court, via an order dated February 7, quashed second renewals of 88 mining leases in the State and directed them to stop operations after March 15. The State and Central governments have been directed to undertake a fresh exercise to grant leases as per the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation (MMDR) Act.
“There should be a clear picture whether mining in Goa is going to resume without any hindrance or it is going to shut down forever. We can’t live in this kind of uncertain situation for long. We are running out of time,” All Goa Truck Owners Association president Nilkant Gawas told Herald.
He said the mining industry has been pushed into uncertainty since the year 2012 and people dependent on it, are facing a bleak future.
Currently, there are 8500 trucks engaged in the business. The earning behind each truck per month is around Rs 35,000-40,000, with trips per truck restricted to only 2 or 3. Also, another 100 barges are involved in ferrying ore from the jetties to the port.
“The closure of the industry will adversely affect the livelihood of the families dependent on the business directly or indirectly,” Gawas said, warning of a mass protest if the government fails to protect their livelihood. Nearly 60,000 families with around 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh dependents, are expected to be affected by the closure of mining.
Another truck owner and leader Suresh Desai said the solution to the problem has to be worked out before March 15 or else it would lead to a major economic disaster for the people dependent on this industry. “We want the mining industry to continue. It is for the experts and the government to find a solution. Our final hopes are on the all-party delegation which is going to Delhi on Monday,” he said.
Former chief of the All Goa Barge Owners Association, Atul Jadhav, said that people dependent on the industry are waiting for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to recover and take charge. “It is he who has the capability to provide a solution to this problem,” Jadhav said, adding that the people would be in deeper trouble if the mining industry stops operations.
“We have seen that during the current season, there was hardly any export of ore. We were expecting the industry to stabilise but the SC order has dashed those hopes,” he added.
The apex iron ore exporter’s body – Goa Mineral ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) – said that stoppage of mining activities in the State will adversely affect revenue worth Rs 3400crore to the State and those dependent on the business. “The industry contributes around Rs 1000 crore revenue to Centre and State in form of various taxes including royalty and another Rs 1000 crore for those 12000 trucks and 150 barges dependent on the business. Also there is another Rs 1200 crore as production cost and another Rs 200 crore on other costs,” GMOEA said.
