VASCO: Expressing their sincere gratitude to the shippers, the State government and exporters for being with them in their difficult time, the Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) on Thursday reiterated that they have full faith in the State government that it would come out with some concrete solution for the mining issue before the commencement of the mining season in September this year.
Addressing a press conference at GBOA office, its President Raymond De Sa said, “The relief by Supreme Court has come like a saviour and we have full faith in the judiciary, the government at the Centre and in the State. We wish to express our gratitude to the shippers who remained with us in such bad times. We also respect the mandate of the Supreme Court as well as High Court and we will abide by the directions and laws of the land.”
“We have lost last six years of business and with the relief now we will be able to run our business for another two months. We now hope that the State government will abide by the SC order and would come out with some concrete solution so that by next season commencing in September-October this year, we should be in position to start our business again or else we barge owners would be in great difficultly,” he said.
De Sa said that the way Supreme Court has recently extended relief to bars in Goa and on similar line, the GBOA on behalf of mining dependent would request the Supreme Court to give relief to the mining industry also as the economy of Goa is dependent on mining industry.
De Sa claimed that looking at good business opportunities in other States, many barge owners have already taken their barges to other neighbouring states.
“Even I am planning to shift four of my seven barges to Mumbai as they are looking out for barges for sand extraction. Many others have also approached me with same request and this migration of barges is going on since 2012 mining ban,” he said.
