Team Herald
PANJIM: Claiming that stoppage of Mining Industry has resulted into loss of around Rs 7,000 crore to State exchequers in last two years, the Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) has once again urged the Central government to bring out legislative amendment for immediate resumption of iron ore activities in the State.
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In the response to Union Mines Ministry’s notice with regards to public consultation called on, “Proposal for Mining Reforms”, the GMPF has suggested to the Central government to consider amendments to the Goa Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration of Mining Leases Act, 1987, making the Abolition Act prospective from 1987 by amending the current provision of it being retrospective).
“The suggestion is in line with the State government demand who has been reportedly written to the Union government on multiple occasion since 2018 for legislative cure, which shall clarify the period of lease until 2037 by making Abolition Act prospective, that is 50 years as mandated under MMDR Act 2015,” GMPF President Puti Gaonkar said.
Gaonkar said that the proposed reform will bring Goa on-par with other States, to harmonise with the MMDR Act amendment of 201, because the current inequality allows all other States except Goa to extend or renew life of lease for a period of 50 years from earlier provision of 20 years.
“This suggestion will also be in line with the objective of the proposed reforms, to accelerate growth, increase employment and stimulate the economy progressively to recover from the dampening impact of COVID-19,” he said.
GMPF leader said that by various estimates, the State has faced a loss of around Rs 7,000 crore in the last two years due to the stoppage of mining industry.
“Also Goa had the largest unemployment rate in the country before the pandemic and now the unemployment is multi-fold due to the crises in tourism sector, too,” he added.
On the Amendment towards District Mineral Funds (DMF) rules and guidelines, the GMPF has stressed the need to use the funds to create alternate employment in addition to agricultural schemes, for sustaining long-term opportunities for employment in the mining belt.
