Team Herald
PONDA: Dharbandora Truck Owners’ Association President Balaji Gawas has alleged that the government failed to present the case of mines dependent people before Supreme Court which resulted in the apex court quashing the second renewal of mining leases given to 88 companies in Goa and ordering closure of the mining industry from Friday.
“Government failed to submit in the Supreme Court that around two lakh people in Goa are dependent on mining as they have borrowed loans to run their business,” he said briefing the media on the decision to hold the protest on Monday.
The media briefing was attended by representatives of various associations of mining dependents namely Mahesh Gawas, Suresh Desai, Atul Jadhav and Kalidas Fatde.
The barge owners complained saying that the mining crisis would not only affect the mining dependents but also the business in the port town of Vasco. The barge owners informed that they have borrowed loans to the tune of over Rs 100 crore and questioned whether business tycoons such as Jindal and Adani will provide them (barge owners and mining dependents) with jobs or just employ outsiders.
“Presently, the locals are not provided any jobs in the coal handling facilities at Vasco,” they alleged. The members feared that it would take at least another three years for auction to take place and questioned as to how the mining dependents would survive.
Earlier, on Saturday a meeting was held at Ponda to chalk out strategies for the March 19 morcha at Panjim.
The mining dependents have been asked to gather before 8.30 am at KTC bus stand to march towards Azad Maidan, Panjim on Monday.
The mining belt road at Usgao wore a deserted look following the closure of mining as trucks were stationed off the road.
