PONDA: The mining dependents along with their families have now decided to stage yet another protest on May 10 in Panjim demanding resumption in mining activities and against the recent large scale lay off of thousands of employees by mining companies.
Addressing the media, Dharbandora Truck Owners Association (DTOA) president Balaji Gawas said, “Let the government file as many as cases against us. We are firm on holding the protest as we have been left to starve. May 10 morcha will be the biggest-ever morcha in the history of Goa and the government will be held responsible for any untoward incident.
Machindra Desai, Yashwant Bandodkar, Ramakant Gaonkar and Vishal Tilve were also present.
Balaji said the DTOA has been sympathetic towards the employees who have been laid off and will support them. He called upon them to show their strength along with the truck owners at the May 10 morcha.
Balaji said, “Mere contacting MLAs will not help. We know that BJP president Amit Shah is coming to Goa on May 13. If government does not want any morcha then it should find solution before May10.”
He said BJP leaders claimed a scam of Rs 35 crore due to illegal mining then why the government is not recovering the same and helping the mining dependents. Last time, during lease renewals, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had assured to provide the workers with jobs in their respective companies but failed to do so. After the morcha, the government appointed CAC, ministers and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured us to find a solution to but failed.
Another DTOA member Machindra Desai said, “If mining companies continue to lay off workers despite government warning, then government should take stringent measures against mining companies by not conducting any e-auction nor by not cooperating in lifting the dumped ore.
He said, “Immediately following the closure of transportation of ore, the mining companies stopped providing medical facilities, water supply via tankers, buses for school students etc.”
