PONDA: Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) on Wednesday demanded that the Government should take a decision to resolve the mining issue at once.
The demand comes a day after the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed time up to the end of January 2021, to the mining lessees for the removal of iron ore excavated/mined on or before March 15, 2018, subject to payment of royalties and other charges.
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Addressing media persons, GMPF leader Puthi Gaonkar in the presence of office bearers said, “It’s now two years that the three lakh mining dependents are in distress. Nearly 60,000 directs jobs have been lost due to mining closure.”
“Mining is backbone of Goan economy and so not only mining dependents but State economy has collapsed. To pull out Goans from economic crisis, the State government needs to start mining or take over mining machinery,” he said.
He demanded either government restart mining or take over mining machinery, trucks and barges and absorb mining workers.
He said, “COVID has hit us badly. Temporary measures such as transportation of royalty paid ore, for three months, are only beneficial to government and not a solution. It is not affordable for truck owners as they have to spend much on truck maintenance and machinery. Further there is no guarantee that everyone will get jobs. If mining doesn’t start than mining machinery and trucks would soon turn into scrap.”
GMPF vice president Vinayak Gauns said, “We are likely to meet the Chief Minister and cabinet ministers on October 16.”
