Not many Goans work as labourers or any other posts in the mining companies but they are connected to mining in allied services like transportation, garages, fuel stations, hotels, restaurants, tyre services etc.
While it is a known fact that truck owners would be the first casualty post March 16, the other allied services would also be hit very badly.
“We have seen the days post 2012 ban, there was total zero business we had no customers for tea or snacks,” said a small cafe owner Shivanand Kerkar in Satteri.
“After 2012 ban that continued for four years the mining dependents were not in position to continue their business but despite this they mortgaged their houses, gold etc and made their trucks roadworthy. And this decision will spell doom for them,.” he said.
The panch said that the truck owners are also not getting fresh loans as earlier loans were not cleared.
The government during the last ban period had granted a OTS scheme for truck and barge owners besides a monthly package for truckers.
However, this does not seem to have gone well with other businesses connected with mining.
“Except truck owners, the government did not even bother to conduct our survey. Government must explain how much money it spent in mining belt from the fund created through the contribution of mining companies,” said one garage owner Sankesh Talaulikar, from Usgao.
The business owners located along mining belt from Palim, Usgao ,Dharbadora , Kodlim feel if mining is shut they should be provided government job to their children and family members as in case of closure of mining they will have to shut down their shops and small establishment providing various services.
When questioned whether the mining dependents had overcome the losses a truck owner Premanand Naik asked what was the need of the government to force them to install GPS, speed governors and increasing the vehicle insurance.
“We did all that was told by the government and many of them here have also taken loan against their gold and other property from the banks. All this was done to repair the trucks which were earlier kept idle. With the mining ban how should we repay this loan?” Naik questions.
The secretary of the truck owner’s association in Bicholim, Subhash Kinalkar told that this time the ban would hit them even harder than the earlier one.
“There are many who are directly dependent upon mining in Goa including the truck owners, drivers, labourers, spare part owners and their families. This ban would only bring back the situation which we dealt with in 2012” Subhash Kinalkar told.
Hanumant Parab, President, Pissurlem Truck Owners association said that when mining case was going on in Supreme Court why did the Goa Government and mines owners start operations.
“Now due to mining ban we all truck owners will face loss not mines owners. For this mining ban the Goa Government and Mines owners are responsible. Now we will come on road against this Government and Mines owners,” he said.
