PANAJIThe Goa Mining People’s Front(GMPF) which has been atthe forefront of the on-goingfight to protect livelihood of3,00,000 Goans in the State,urged Prime Minister NarendraModi for immediate interventionbefore Goa loses its thirdconsecutive mining year tothe ban imposed by the ApexCourt.By various estimates, thestate of Goa has so far faced aloss of around Rs 7000 croresin the last two years due to thestoppage of mining. “If miningactivities are not resumed immediately,the loss to the statecan go as high as Rs
10500crores,” said a statement issuedby GMPF.All mining activities in thestate were abruptly ceased onMarch 15, 2018 following theSupreme Court’s decision toquash renewal of 88 miningleases affecting 3,00,000 livesin the state. The Prime Ministerduring a subsequent electioncampaign had acknowledgedthe severe impacts dueto stoppage of mining and hadassured the required interventionfor immediate resumptionof mining in Goa but decisivesteps are yet to be taken.“If an immediate solutionis not developed, the fateof Goans will languish amida global economic slowdownduring a pandemic,” it furtheradded.Highlighting the issue,Puti Gaonkar, president,GMPF said, “We also requestthe newly-appointed GovernorBharat Singh Koshyari tohighlight the livelihood crisisof Goans before the Centralgovernment. We request thePM to consider our appeal andsafeguard our livelihoods byallowing mining activities toresume in the state.”The immediacy to breakthe livelihood stalemate inthe state rests on the fact thattourism, Goa’s biggest revenueand employment generator isexpected to be at a standstillfor the next 4-5 quarters. In theabsence of mining activitiesgenerating livelihood in thestate, Goans stare at a bleakfuture egged by financial uncertainties.The multitudinous job lossin the state has fostered amammoth challenge for Goawhich was already sufferingfrom an economic downturn.GMPF further stated thatGoa Mining dependents arestill awaiting the ray of hopewhich can be only possiblethrough immediate resumptionof mining. Though festivalseason is on in the state ofGoa, over three lakh mining dependentsare still struggling fora livelihood.“One fifth of Goa’s populationis dependent on miningand this year’s mining seasonwill start just after monsoon. Ifthe highest judiciary does nottake an urgent decision on theresumption of mining in theupcoming hearing on, the thirdconsecutive mining year willgo to waste,” added Balaji Gawas,vice-president of GMPF.Over the past two years, miningdependents have met andsubmitted various appeals/representations/memorandumsseeking intervention andaction from the authorities atthe State and Centre level forearly resumption of mining inthe State.GMPF has among others metand briefed the President ofIndia, Prime Minister, UnionHome Minister, Union MinesMinister, Union Law Minister,Chief Minister of Goa, variousMP’s cutting across party lines,and bureaucrats at Centre andState to take note of the plightof the people of Goa.
