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PANJIM: Strongly voicing resentment against the growing delay in resumption of legal mining, the mining truck owners on Thursday demanded punitive action against politicians, mining companies and Mining Department officials who allowed illegal mining operations which has now spelt doom for Goa, its mining dependants and the economy.
At a press conference in the city, mining truck owners from North Goa blasted the previous government for knowingly permitting illegal mining prior to September 2012.
“Whoever is responsible for the mess whether it is the former mines minister, officials from the Mining Department and mining companies should be punished for the mess,” said Shamba Gauns, President of the North Goa Truck Owners Association.
Gauns, however, said that the truck owners do not share any responsibility of being a part of the mining mess, even though they prospered during the time mining was at its peak.
“We only increased our fleet as the business demand increased,” he said adding that they had no clue of the repercussions that were to follow.
The Association said that they fully respect the court orders staying mining operations in Goa until the mess is sorted out. However, he impressed that the Goa government should plead strongly before the court and the Centre to commence legal mining.
The Association further pointed out that there were too many blame games resulting in a delay in resolving the issue. They also expressed disappointment that despite meeting the CEC and voicing their views, they have not been considered.
Presently, the Association claims that it is also in the dark on the kind of package that the government is working out for mining truck owners affected due to the stay on mining operations in Goa.
The Association pointed out that so far around 9771 trucks have registered with GEL.
Even though there were 21,000 trucks engaged in mining operations, Gauns was unable to answer why there was low registration with GEL. He said, “only registered trucks should be granted the government’s package”.
During the press conference, Association members said that they were reeling terribly under the ongoing crisis and even efforts of seeking business outside Goa had met with futile results.
“We are unable to pay up loans and almost 90 per cent of truck owners who were in the business are yet to clear the loans,” Gauns said adding, the financial year is ending and the financial institutions are already pressing for payments.
