Team Herald
BICHOLIM: At least 50 mining workers from Bicholim on Tuesday met the local MLA Rajesh Patnekar seeking clarification over the Central government supposedly refusing to amend Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act to restart mining in the Goa.
Initially, the workers gathered at the old bus stand in the town, where the protested demanding early resumption of mining. Later, they marched to the local MLA’s office, where they demanded to know from Patnekar the steps taken by the government to restart mining.
Speaking to the media after meeting Patnekar, the workers said that they told the MLA that they are living in a dire condition and if the mining does not resume soon, they would be ruined.
“We were very concerned at hearing the news that the Central government is not ready to amend the Mines and Minerals (development & Regulation) Act. So, we came to meet the Bicholim MLA to seek clarification on the news; and he has assured us that within 15 days we will get a good news, as such, he asked us not to panic,” a mine worker said.
The concerned miners said that they are still hopeful that the government would solve the problem at the earliest.
