PONDA: Irked over the “hollow” promises of the government, the Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) has informed that a decision on the action plan to restart mining in the state will be taken at the meeting scheduled on June 1 at Gomantak Vidyalaya Hall, Tisk-Usgao at 4 pm.
The GMPF has informed that eight public meetings will be held in the talukas of Goa to create awareness among the mining dependents on the current scenario.
The three MPs and the MLAs of the mining belt will be invited for the meeting, informed Puti Gaonkar, GMPF president at the press briefing.
He declared that the front is non-political and formed only for purpose to restart mining.
He said, “A do or die situation is prevailing at the moment as almost 1.50 lakh people involved in mining have been affected following the Supreme Court order banning mining in Goa. The affected people include around 35000 employees, who terminated from their services by the mining companies after shutting their operations following the SC order.”
“Despite agitations, protest and morcha in Panjim and hollow promises by ministers, nothing has happened. We launched the morcha in Panjim but government made all efforts to make it futile,” he said.
The GMPF president said after the SC order, the state government has failed to find solution to restart mining activities in Goa and it appears that government is not serious on the issue.
“Besides the review petition in SC, there is another option such as promulgation of ordinance to restart mining operations. We will wait till May 31 and during this period we will hold awareness meetings in mining belts,” he informed.
The corner meetings are scheduled on May 23 at 10.30 am in Pale Panchayat hall at Pale for people of Surla and Velguem; on May 24 in Sundaram Hall, Honda at 4 pm for mining affected people of Honda, Pissurlem and Sanquelim; on May 25 at Kalsai Sateri Temple at Dharbandora at 10 am for the people of Dharbandora, Kirlapal Dabal, Shigao, Collem and Mollem; on May 26 in Bicholim Municipal Hall at 10.30 am for people of Bicholim, Mayem, Shirgao and Pilgao; on May 27 in Rivona Panchayat hall at 10.30 am for people of Rivona, Sanguem and Quepem; on May 28 near Paular Temple at 4 pm at Usgao Ganjem; on May 29 at 10.30 am for people of Amona, Navelim and Cudne and on May 30 at Sanvordem Tisk at 10.30 am for people of Sanvordem, Kallem, Panchawadi and Shirgao.
