PONDA: The Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) leader Puti Gaonkar on Friday said if the government conduct e-auctioning of all the leases to restart mining operations then it should assure to employ all the existing workers, machinery owners and truck owners, who were retrenched at the time of closure of mining.
Gaonkar warned, “Failing which the GMPF will stage agitation against restart of mining. We are informing the government in advance that if our demands are not fulfilled then we will stage massive agitation.”
The GMPF leader was reacting to the statement made by Chief Minister to media of restarting mining by conducting e-auction of all mining leases including 88 leases, whose second renewal was quashed by the Supreme Court.
“We will welcome the move if the government restart mining,” he added.
He said, “The government should not play with the lives of poor mining dependents by making such statement. Some poor mining dependents even committed suicide due to closure of mining. If the State and Central governments are really serious they should restart mining in a short period.”
“The State government must get directives from the Central government instead of making a statement on e-auctioning of mining leases to restart mining,” he said.
“The GMPF since 2018 was saying that if the government wishes it can conduct e-auctioning of all the mining leases to restart operations any time and with the Chief Minister making such statement it is proved now,” Gaonkar claimed.
