PANJIM: Alleging that iron ore rich foreign countries like Australia are indulging in conspiring against Goa’s mining industry through funding; the mining dependents have urged the State government to investigate the source of income of NGO Goa Foundation, whose petition led to the closure of the industry, on two different occasions.

Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF), an umbrella organisation of mining dependents, has decided to launch a protest against Goa Foundation Director Claude Alvares, accusing him of being solely responsible for rendering livelihood of three lakh people, dependent on the mining industry.

The move comes at the backdrop of Alvares letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that mining leases in Goa be auctioned.

He also pointed out State government’s failure to recover Rs 3, 431 crore from erring mining firms.

Addressing the media persons on Monday, GMPF President Puti Gaonkar slammed Alavres for working against the interest of people of Goa.

“If someone is responsible for closure of mining industry in the State, he is Claude Alvares. He has some vested interest and hence is working against the State’s interest,” he alleged.

Gaonkar pointed out that iron ore rich countries like Australia, who have captured Goa’s low grade ore international market, are funding NGOs to work against State mining on environmental ground.

“I urge Chief Minister to investigate the source of income of Alvares. We want to know, from where he is getting money to file cases in Supreme Court and to hire such high-profile lawyers,” he said, while adding that the Front will soon launch a protest against Alvares.

GMPF member Vinayak Gawas added that while the State is making sincere efforts to resume mining, Alvares is posing major hindrance.

“If the NGO is so much concerned about environment, then why is he silent on casinos or on the Mhadei issue?” he questioned.