Team Herald
PANJIM: Over three thousand people dependent on the iron ore mining industry on Friday held a token day-long hunger strike at Azad maidan demanding immediate resumption of the industry. It has been shut since March 16 following the Supreme Court judgment that quashed and set aside second renewals granted to 88 mining leases. Threatening to intensify their protest, the dependents have given call for Goa bandh on January 21, 2019, if Centre fails to ensure resumption of the mining activities in the State before that.
The dependents, under the banner Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) have also decided to hold a dharna at Jantar Mantar at New Delhi for the first three days of the forthcoming winter session of the Parliament, pressing for their demand for amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR) 2015 and Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987, giving lease of life till 2037. Nearly 1000, people will be participating in the dharna.
GMPF, who only sought to know from Government by when their business will resume, has also threatened to show their power in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, if Centre fails to bring in an amendment that will ensure resumption of mining activities.
It’s been nearly 95 days since mining dependents have been on protest in Panjim, Bicholim, Sanqulim, Dharbandora and Sanvordem against government failure to protect their livelihood, which is eliminated due to closer of the mining industry. The Supreme Court through its order on February 7, 2018 had quashed operations of 88 mining leases terming it as illegal.
People from across mining belts had gathered at Azad maidan with a single slogan of ‘mining resumption’. Frustration on the people was quite evident over failure of the Central and State BJP government to work out a solution to the crisis.
Speaking to media persons post protest, GMPF President Puti Gaonkar said that they will adopt a resolution to call for Goa bandh on January 21, 2019, if mining does not resume before that. “There is already a delay. We can’t wait anymore. We will adopt resolution to call for Goa bandh. And we are confident that all the political parties will extend us their support,” he said.
Gaonkar also said that nearly one thousand people will march on to Jantar Mantar at New Delhi and hold protest on the first three days of the Parliament session, which is likely to be summoned either in the last week of October or first week of November. “This move will come provided the Central cabinet fails to pass the amendment bill to be placed before the Parliament,” he said.
Speaking further the GMPF leader said “if we fail in all the attempts, then these people (BJP) will have to come to us for votes for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and that time, we will show our power to them”. We had showed our power in 2012 election to Congress….don’t take us for granted.” Hundreds of police force was deployed at Azad maidan to tackle law and order situation, if any. However, the entire protest went on smoothly.
State Legislative Assembly had during its monsoon session unanimously passed resolution for seeking Central government intervention to amend the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987 to enable the the mining leases to remain operational upto 2037. Accordingly, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar led delegation had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Group of Ministers on the issue.
Parrikar, last week had written letter to Union Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar seeking amendment to the act to protect livelihood over lakhs of people dependent on the industry.
