PANJIM: The Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) has urged Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to take an immediate call on the report of Dr K Rajeswara Rao Committee, which has recommended that the 124 iron ore leases that expire in March 2020 can go for e-auction.
The Union Mines Ministry appointed Rao committee, in its report, said that Goa has the highest number of 184 mining leases expiring on March 31, 2020, of which 124 leases can be taken up for ore extraction activities in future through e-auction.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, GMPF, an organisation of people dependent on mining industry, has urged the chief minister to immediately act on the recommendations.
“Government should on urgent basis take decision on e-auction of these leases in the interest of the industry and people dependent on it,” GMPF President Puti Gaonkar said.
Gaonkar, however, demanded that while undertaking e-auction of leases, government should put forth the condition before the bidders, that existing workers, truck operators, machinery owners should be engaged on the same terms and conditions on the mines that go for e-auction.
Until that time, Gaonkar demanded, that the government should provide monthly subsistence allowance to the mining dependents. GMPF has sought CM’s appointment for urgent meeting to discuss the future course of action.
In Goa, of the total 184 non-working mines, 60 leases fall within the buffer zone of the protected areas of Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Park, and hence cannot be taken up for mining in future.
