Team Herald
PONDA: Sesa Goa Employees Union members met South Goa MP Adv Narendra Sawaikar and requested for an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 29 to discuss their grievances.
The mining affected workers from Bicholim informed that panic has prevailed after the news that the Central Government has rejected to issue an Ordinance for resumption of mining activities in the State.
The Union members led by Kishore Lokate, Nilesh Karbote, Anil Salelkar, Mahesh Hoble, Nyaneshwar Naik, Babuso Karbote and Rajesh Gaonkar expressed disappointment over the news and sought clarification from Sawaikar. They brought to notice the condition of mining dependents after closure of mining activities which has affected their livelihood.
Lokate said that since the Prime Minister plays the main role in the government, his opinion is of utmost important hence mining dependents felt necessary to meet him once on mining issue.
“During the 2012 mining closure in Goa, the mining affected people got the appointment with then prime minister Manmohan Singh seven times, but after BJP government coming to power in 2014 not a single appointment has been received with PM Narendra Modi to discuss the mining issue.”, he informed Sawaikar even as they demanded an appointment of Modi on November 29.
The South Goa MP assured to arrange for an appointment with the Prime Minister. He said “Mining dependent should not get panicked over the unofficial news of Central Government rejecting to bring in the Ordinance. State and Central governments are not against restarting mining in Goa but on the other hand they are making lot of efforts for commencement of mining in Goa”.
He informed that Goa Government had written to the Centre on September 14 for commencement of mining in Goa and that no reply has been received yet. Stating that mining in the State closed after the Supreme Court order, Sawaikar said “The mining dependent should not panic and worry as BJP Government is likely to bring suitable amendment in MMDR Act in forthcoming Parliament session”.
