TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CURCHOREM: The Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF), an association comprising members from South Goa Progressive Truck Owners Association, All Goa Barge Owners Association and Machine Owners Association, recently met Union Environment Minister
Veerappa Moily to seek an early resumption of mining activities in the State.
“The delegation had a 30-minute meeting with Moily and he assured us that he would to do whatever he could within his power,” Truck Owners Association President Prakash Raut Dessai told Herald.
In a memorandum submitted to Moily, the GMPF stated that: This situation cannot be allowed to continue for an indefinite period and immediate commencement of mining in Goa is must for sustainable development of Goa and common Goans.
Besides Prakash Dessai, General Secretary Laximan Dessai, Barge Association President Atul Jadav and other members were also present at the meeting with the union minister.
“Digvijay Singh, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and In-charge of Goa Desk, who was also present at the meeting, requested Moily to try to resume mining business in Goa at the earliest,” said Prakash Dessai.
“Since the matter is before the Supreme Court, the minister assured us to resolve the situation as per the law and advice of the Court,” he added.
The delegation later called on AICC General Secretary and former chief minister Luizinho Faleiro and requested him to fix an appointment with Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to put forth their grievances.
“Faleiro immediately accepted the request and also assured our delegation that he would also fix an appointment with Finance Minister P Chidambaram to work out a solution to prevent banks and other financial agencies from forcing us to repay the loans that we had taken for our mining business,” said Prakash Dessai.
