Team Herald
PANJIM : Over thousands of dependents across mining belts are likely to gathered at KTCL Bus stand Panjim, further marching to Azad Maidan, on Monday, as part of mega dharna, demanding immediate resume iron ore mining activities, which are under suspension since March 16. The North District Administration has evoked Section 144 for the capital city and surrounding areas.
The Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF), the umbrella organization of the mining dependents, is been protesting across various talukas as part of their agitation. After candle light march and public meeting, the GMPF has called for a dharna at Azad Maidan on Monday from 10.00am to 5.00pm, following by chain dharna thereafter.
“As the government had said that the solution for mining will be worked out latest by June 7, we waited for some action. However, no concrete steps have come from government to restart the mining activities. Hence, we have decided to go ahead with the dharna at Azad Maidan,” GMFP said in their press statement issued.
Thousands of dependents including truck owners, barge owners, machinery owners and others are expected to participate in the dharna. This is going to second biggest protest by the mining dependent. The first protest held on March 19, had turned destructive, after the agitators resorted to violence. The National Highway was blocked for nearly three-four hours.
Fearing the similar situation in future, the North District Magistrate (DM) had extended Section 144 indefinitely from March 19, and is still in force.
Section 144 prohibits the assembly and gathering of five or more persons and taking out or organizing of processions, blocking of any road/ throughfare/street thereby causing disruption in the free moment of public and vehicular traffic, the use of loudspeakers, shouting of slogans and burning of fire crackers near the petrol pumps and at the venues of meetings etc. on either side of the Mandovi bridge and in and around KTC Bus stand in Panaji, Corporation of the City of Panaji and Village Panchayats Penha-de-Franca and Merces.
“It is going to be a peaceful protest. We are going to walk from KTC bus stand to Azad Maidan,” GMFP said adding ‘failure of government to work out immediate solution, will force us to call for mega morcha on Secretariat during the monsoon session of the State Assembly’.
GMPF has also launched signature campaign for resumption of mining activities, which will be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Till date over one lakh signatures have been received along with 23 resolutions, support letters from Panchayats and 33 signatures from local MLAs on representation to PM.
State Government has already urged mining dependents not to protest assuring that the review petition in the Supreme Court will be filed latest by this week.
