SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS
* Scores of people dependent on mining are without work and in a finacial mess
* As work is hard to come by, some truck owners have started transporting sand
* Truck owners want assurance of mining resumption before installation of GPS
* Truck mechanics too are going through a lean a period with business hit hard
* Liquor business in Sankhali is 50% down ever since mining was banned in 2012
THE GOAN NETWORK / PANAJI
Pic Credit: Sagun Gawade
The end of the monsoon in October must have raised hopes of resumption of mining activities, but that seems to have hit the pit in Bicholim as majority of the mines have gone without action, thus plunging scores of mining dependents like truck owners, drivers, machine operators and their families in a finacial and economic crises.
'The Goan' made a trip to Bicholim where it saw a number of truck drivers by the side of roads waiting for business to come by. This was particularly the case with Sirigao and Maem areas in the taluka.
When enquired, truck drivers informed that mines in Sirigao and Maem were still not excavating fresh ore as they were selling the ore they bought in auctions. As a result, only a few truck drivers have managed to get business, while the rest of them wait endlessly.
Bhimu, a truck owner, says, “The president of our association will speak to the management of Chowgule mines to know when they would be resuming mining activities and how many trucks would be required.”
Meanwhile, truck owners are not ready to install global positioning system (GPS) unless companies assure them of resumption of mining. A tracking system costs Rs 8,000 per truck, which have to be borne by the truck owners.
Frustrated by lack of work, some truck owners have started transporting sand, which is not permitted under law because sand mining has been declared an illegal activity in the state.
When asked what do mining dependents do to make a living, a man replied, “Some work in the fields, some go to catch fish, some pledge whatever gold they have to raise money, while in some other cases their wives and kids have to work to support families.”
Vedanta had suspended operations at its Bicholim mines with effect from October 13, 2016 because of some issues with the workers. After more than a month, the company revoked the suspension on November 17. But, very little mining activity is taking place at Sirigao, Maem and Bicholim.
As mining has not started in full flow, other businesses are getting affected too. An alcohol wholesaler in Sankhali said, “My business is 50% down ever since iron ore mining was banned in 2012. Although mining resumed last year, but still volumes are very low and my business is still down.”
In Bicholim taluka, mining seems to have started only in Cudnem, where a number of trucks carrying iron ore were seen on roads. Consequently, even mining dependents have got some work there.
From Cudem to Amona belt, mechanics, who repair trucks, have got some work, but a lot lesser than what they had when mining was at its peak.
A mechanic in Navelim said, “We get 4 to 5 trucks every day for repair. So, the situation is better than earlier, when we had no work. But, even at this level, we still don’t have enough business and we had to shut three repair shops.”
Mining dependents in large parts of Bicholim are hoping to find work as and when companies start excavating fresh ore. But till then, all they can do is wait and watch.
