Team Herald
PANJIM: Welcoming the Supreme Court decision on transportation of ore, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the order will give relief to employees and transporters in mining companies for at least a year.
Sawant said, “I welcome the SC decision. I am also hopeful that the mining companies will take all necessary permits and resume operations within 8 to 10 days.”
Sawant said there was lot of ore which can give business and employment to the mining affected for about a year ‘at least’. “The government will request mining companies to take back employees who were retrenched due to closure of mining,” he said.
The Chief Minister was also hopeful that the SC, which allowed the transportation of royalty paid ore, will also allow transportation of non-royalty paid ore. “One decision is in our favour and we are hopeful that next will also be in our favour. Till February 22 we expect another decision to come in our favour,” he said.
As per the chief minister around 9 million tonnes of ore are lying at jetties and leases. “Right now the market position is good and scope for export is also good so we expect the mining economy to move now,” he says.
Asked whether the State expects any revenue from the decision, he said, “Only small amount from permits may be there but on the whole we want mining operations to resume first.”
