PANAJI
Close on the heels of the Goa Legislative Assembly passing the Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill 2021 which provides for establishing a State-owned Mining Corporation, the Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF), an organisation of mining sector dependents has demanded a proper timeline and clarity for resumption of the economic activity.
Comprising now unemployed workers of the mining industry, owners of trucks and other allied businesses linked to the mining industry, GMPF also said there was no roadmap in the bill which was passed by the Goa legislative assembly to set up the State-owned corporation ostensibly to revive mining.
"There is transparency required on how this is going to enable early resumption of mining in Goa and restore the livelihoods lost which is more vital in the current circumstances. The bill does not spell out any intent about protecting the interest of local people by creating employment," GMPF president, Puti Gaonkar said in a statement released on Monday.
"The current bill does not mention about induction of workers or trucks directly by the corporation so the interest of local people does not form a part of the bill. Goans have faced a lot of hardships because of repeated bans on mining in the last one decade and are now looking for stable and sustainable livelihoods," Gaonkar adds.
The mining sector in Goa came to a grinding halt in March 2018, for a second time after the Supreme Court cancelled 88 mining leases holding their renewal in 2014-15 illegal. Earlier in 2012, the Apex Court had banned mining in the wake of the Rs 35,000 crore alleged scam unearthed by the Justice MB Shah Commission appointed by the Centre.
Mining resumed in 2015 with restrictions before it was eventually halted again in 2018 when the Apex Court found irregularities in the process of renewal of some 88 mining leases.
