PANJIM: Conceding that the blanket ban on mining has adversely affected many, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar assured that mining may resume by October 2015.
“I feel that by October mining may begin,” he told the House in response to a starred question by Opposition Leader Pratapsingh Rane asking about the loss to the State exchequer due to mining closure.
Parsekar, who also holds the mines portfolio, however, said they are unable to ascertain the exact loss because of various reasons like changing ore prices, royalty rates among others.
He also informed the House about the schemes introduced for mining stakeholders as well as government’s intervention with the banks to give relief to mining loan borrowers.
The chief minister assured that the umbrella scheme, which provides financial relief to truck and barge owners, will be extended to ‘earth movers’ owners soon. Rane had earlier pointed out that while the major sections of the affected dependents were looked after through the welfare schemes, the ancillary units like repair shops, tea stalls and small restaurants in the mining belt were neglected.
The government has spent over Rs 112 crore by way of financial help to 6,963 truck owners while 1,434 persons, who were rendered jobless after the mining ban, have also been taken care of.
Rane also appealed to the government to appoint a consultancy firm to conduct a survey on the number of people affected in case mining does not resume by next year. “The government should chalk out plans on how it will help them and given them an alternative occupation,” he said.
