Opposing the move of the government to auction mining blocks in Mayem, the farmers have demanded that the government undertake restoration of the affected land first and then go ahead with the auction.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji on Tuesday, Mayem Vibuchan Nagrik Samiti President Sakharam Pednekar said the fields, rivers, lakes, culverts, etc are full of mining sludge.
“But the government is now trying to auction mining blocks in Mayem even before undertaking restoration of the fields and the water bodies,” Pednekar chided.
“Due to the mining sludge, the fields have become uncultivable. It will require at least five years for the fields to be made cultivable,” he informed, while questioning the move of the government to restart mining without working out ways to restore the fields.
Pednekar then demanded that the government should do justice to the farmers by undertaking restoration of fields and water bodies.
“After the restoration, the government can go ahead with the resumption of mining activities,” he said.
