the goan I network
vasco
A number of shops and establishments in Vasco were closed on Tuesday morning, in response to the bandh called by the Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF).
Around 200 mining dependents also took part in a bike rally in support of the bandh in Tuesday morning.
While buses and other transport activities were normal, a lot of shops in Vasco market were closed in the morning. Many businessmen also voluntarily participated in the bandh by closing their establishments for some hours during the bandh.
The bandh was peaceful in Vasco and there were no untoward incidents reported.
Speaking to reporters, Vasco-based Shipping Agent Mannubhai Thakker said the response to GMPF in Vasco was directly related to a large number of mining dependents in the taluka
“There used to be so many ships arriving at the port while the mining activity was going on and we had so many barges. Shops in Vasco would cater to a lot of barge crew and other mining workers. With the closure of mining, economy of Vasco collapsed,” said Thakker.
“Iron ore was the main cargo handled by the port because it was locally available and now with the ban, there are virtually no ships calling at MPT. This has a bad cascading effect on business in Vasco,” he added.
Barge owner Atul Jadhav said a lot of stakeholders in the shipping industry had vanished from the port town after the ban came into effect.
“There were so many employees and companies in Vasco, be it samplers, stevedores, etc. Most have left and business has come down by 50 percent,”said
Jadhav, adding, “Vasco used to be a major hub of mining activities because of the existence of port and earlier a lot of business would happen in Vasco, but with the mining ban, the economy of the port town has dropped.”
