the goan I network
VASCO
GCCI logistic committee Chairman Chandrakant Gawas has suggested that the government should either waive off loans of mining dependents like those of farmers in other states or should infuse capital in cooperative banks, to enable them to pass on the benefit to mining dependents to clear their loans.
Speaking to reporters, Gawas said Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had recently announced of infusing Rs 83,000 crore to Public Sector Banks.
“I appeal to our three MPs to meet the finance minister and take up a special request to infuse a Rs 150 crore capital to the Goan cooperative banks so that they can come at par with nationalised banks in offering loan waivers to barge owners, machinery owners, truck owners and employees who are mining dependents,” said Gawas.
“This scheme will help cooperative banks not in a position to offer any waivers on loans due to lack of financial backup. If this is not possible, then loans of mining dependents must be waived off totally, like how farmers have got their loans waived off in other states.”
“The mining ban was affected after a national policy on mining activity was put in place and the difference between mining activities in Goa and mining activities in other states were not clarified to the union government.”
Stating that cooperative banks were approached as they were Goan banks, Gawas said these banks had fallen in further financial difficulties and were unable to offer any relief on loans taken up after mining had resumed again
for a short time.
