Yet another Ganesh festival and there was no cheer for the people dependent on iron ore mining business. The situation that prevailed post 2012 ban, continues even today. Though, the year 2016 saw resumption of iron ore activities, it failed to light up the lives of people depended on this traditional activity from the mining rich areas, considering the fact that the industry did not pick up pace and with limited annual extraction of 20 tonnes, the locals have nothing to rejoice about.
Alike every year, the dependents feel that post Ganesh festival, the new mining season which will commence in October will bring in some reason to cheer.
The BJP-led government made all out efforts to resume the Industry. As the years passed by, the government kept dragging its deadline by every year, to finally meet up only in 2016.
Nevertheless, the mining ban also had a great impact on the State economy, with State losing out nearly Rs 1000 crore revenue loss every year. Mining, the backbone of the State economy, was the largest contributor to State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP), which witnessed negative growth.
It all Started in September 2012, a month after Justice M B Shah Commission of Inquiry into illegal mining in Goa report was out in the Parliament, exposing Rs 35,000 crore scam and indicting all the mining lease holders, former Chief Ministers and other official in-charge into the scam. The Report spelled doom for the Central (UPA) and State government, who were left with no other option then to act upon.
The Shah Commission report came as a major shocker to the Manohar Parrikar-led government who had resumed power just six months before. Left with no other option and in bid to grant protection to this industry, the BJP government took an historical decision on September 10, 2012 and imposed temporary suspension on all the mining activities including extraction, transportation and export.
Before the State government could act further in safeguarding the sector, the Central government then ruled by Congress led UPA, made a political move. The then Environment Minister Jayanti Natarajan’s, during her Goa visit, took an arbitrary decision suspending environment clearances (ECs) of 93 leases.
The State was yet to come out of this jolt, and it got further shock in form of Supreme Court imposing ban on the activity on October 5, 2012. The order was issued in a petition filed by NGO Goa Foundation who had approached the Apex Court praying that the recommendations of the Shah Commission be implemented. The Commission had noted that all the mining leases operational in the State since 2007 are illegal.
The decision affected the livelihood of over one lakh population who were directly and indirectly dependent on mining industry. Around 20,000 trucks, 400 odd barges, hundreds of trippers remained without business. As the years passed by, several drivers, cleaners and other employed here were forced to leave the State in search of new job…many students had to leave their education and migrate. The mining belt that saw a major boom in the business since 2005-06 was at the standstill.
In a bid to provide relief to these people, the Government in April 2013 — on completion of its one-year launched the umbrella scheme to provide financial assistance. Under the scheme, truck or tipper owners were provided assistance of Rs 8000 on the first truck and Rs 4000 on the second vehicle every month, while a jobless mining worker is given Rs 12,000 assistance per month. The scheme benefited to nearly 8000 truck owners and thousand odd jobless.
However, the scheme was marred with allegations after certain truck owners’ complaint of not receiving the benefit, while those benefited were not happy with the financial support.
While the financial assistance was in force, the huge loan liabilities were something that was haunting the people. The sword of financial institutions and banks was lying on these people, who were forced to sell their precious assets like properties, gold, trucks and barges to settle the claims, before government introduced the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme in September 2014.
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POLITICIANS SHOULD ‘MINE’ THEIR MOVE
It’s almost going to be five years since mining activities have stopped completely. This is the first Ganesh Chaturthi since the time mining has resumed. But if you peep into the lives of mining dependents, you will feel that they were better when mining had stopped. That time they had no money but had resigned to their fate that the financial situation had gone awry.
Resumption of mining has failed to light up the lives of people dependent. BJP government and mining firms are taking utmost advantage of the fact that people dependent on mining activities are eager to get into the business. People will teach BJP a lesson during coming election.
— Nilkhant Gawas, President All Goa Truck Owners Association
Since 2013, there is not much Ganesh festival celebrations in our village. The villagers, who used to celebrate it for five or seven days, have restricted the festival to one-and-a-half days. Truck owners have gone bankrupt. None are ready to give them credit in the market.
Companies like Sesa Goa which promised to pay Rs 10.5 per km before the State government has now gone back on their word. They are hardly paying Rs 9.5 to Rs 10 at the most.
Ulhas Gawas, truck owner
To some extend on mining front something has started. People who are dependent on this activity are now hoping that after Ganesh Chaturthi when the season starts, it will be full fledged. BJP government has failed to fulfill assurances given to the mining dependent people. They should know that 80-90 per cent people from mining belt voted for them. They have dashed aspirations of the people. People will react against BJP during the upcoming Assembly election. BJP will feel the pinch.
It’s almost four years that the mining has stopped. Many people have opted for alternate employment generation. Those who couldn’t find any other means, their situation is precarious.
