Team Herald
PONDA: Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) leader Puti Gaonkar, on Monday, said the government can restart mining activities in the State at the earliest with any mode but cautioned it to take care that it should not get stuck in the court litigations, which last 10 to 15 years.
Gaonkar was reacting to the Chief Minister’s statement that iron ore mining could be resumed in Goa through auctioning or mining corporation’s route options. The GMPF is unhappy over the two-year delay by government in finding mining solution.
Gaonkar informed Herald that the State government is a decision-making body. “Why did it not take any decision for the last two years; who stopped them?” he wondered.
“We were continuously demanding that the State government restart mining immediately in Goa. “We never demanded that we want this route or that route for early resumption. We were just suggesting legislative amendment to Mining Abolition Act at the earliest but legally seek a sound solution to extend leases till 2037,” he added.
He said around three lakh mining dependents are suffering for the past many years due to the halt of mining activities and they are hoping their livelihood will restart with mining activities in State at the earliest.
“If the government wants to restart mining with auction or taking a corporation route then why it delayed this process for last two years without taking any decision? Start mining, take auction or ccorporation route but take care that it does get stuck in the court litigations,” Gaonkar said.
