VASCOThe Goa Chamber of Commerceand Industry (GCCI)has petitioned Chief MinisterPramod Sawant to resumemining in the State and instructthe Director of Minesand Geology to convene ameeting with all stakeholdersin the presence of the advocategeneral.The delegation led by GCCIDirector General R S Kamat,Director A K Banerjee andTreasurer Chandrakant Gawassubmitted a representationto Sawant in this regard.Speaking to reporters,GCCI Treasurer ChandrakantGawas said all were eagerlyawaiting the judgment of theSupreme Court
on the miningissue in the State and hoped itwould be a favourable one torestart the activity.“GCCI is a body of all industriesand we submitted arepresentation because theclosure has brought immensehardships to citizens and alsoto the economy of the state.”“We have requested the CMto submit an affidavit on behalfof the government that asolution to the mining issuehas to come from the hearingin Supreme Court.”“We have also requestedthat the Director of Mines andGeology convene a meetingwith stakeholders associatedwith mining activities andNGOs not supporting miningactivity, in the presence of theadvocate general.”“The meeting can explainand discuss the advantagesand disadvantages of miningresumption and many issuescan be resolved,” said Gawas.Gawas claimed that resumingmining activity is a steptowards the betterment of theeconomy of the State.“This meeting shouldbe convened before the resumptionof mining activity,to make stakeholders awareof all legal and statutory requirements,so that those arecomplied with and also resolveany of their outstandingissues,” said Gawas.Stating that the CM hadassured to convene such ameeting after August 18, Gawassaid all industries werealmost closed down amid theCovid pandemic and miningwas the only industry thatcan support the economy ofthe State.“Any other aspect beingraised by NGOs like recoverycan be done through properchannels and legal procedures,but legal mining has tobe started. Keeping the activityclosed and putting so manypeople to severe hardships isnot the solution,” said Gawas.Gawas added that a halt inmining activity had also crippledthe barge business in theState. “The barge industry isin deep trouble and after ahalt in mining activity, bargetax and goods tax payment tothe government is pending.”“Former CM late ManoharParrikar had assured us thaton par with other stakeholders,our outstanding bargetaxes of around Rs 4-5 crorewould be waived off.”“However, the issues ofwaiver of barge tax during theclosure of mining are pendingwith the government fora long time and we have requestedCM to look into thematter,” said Gawas.
