VASCO
Hopeful of resumption of mining activity sometime around November, the Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) on Wednesday demanded to know from the government whether they should go ahead with repairs and maintenance of their barges.
The GBOA also expressed its gratitude to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for writing to the union mines minister to consider legislative options to allow resumption of mining in the State.
GBOA President Raymond D’Sa was speaking to reporters along the sidelines of a function to mark the opening of the Aguada Sand Bars and opening of navigational channel of Panjim port.
GBOA member Sanjay Kudapkar performed a pooja, while GBOA members sought the blessings of Vasco Parish Priest Fr Gabriel Coutinho and later symbolically immersed coconuts in the Mandovi river.
Dy Captain of Ports (CoP) Premlal Sirsaikar, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Sandip Bhandare and other GBOA members were present at the event, which is organised annually by GBOA.
“A huge amount of money is required to repair and maintain barges and GBOA members felt that it was better to know the status from the government before they could go ahead with the repairs,” said D’Sa.
Appealing to the State government to extend the Debt Relief Scheme (DRS) for another 6 months, D’Sa also requested the government’s intervention for implementation of DRS by cooperative banks, with a 30 per cent waiver on principal loan amount.
D’Sa also requested the government to offer waiver of barge tax since September 2012 at par with a waiver offered to truck owners who were exempted from paying road tax for transportation of mineral ore.
GCCI President Sandip Bhandare said there had been a cascading effect on the entire economy of Goa due to the mining ban in the State.
“The GCCI has been pressing hard for resumption of mining in the State and in association with GBOA. The GCCI has also been trying hard to get the government to offer relief schemes to barge owners, one of which is a waiver of barge taxes,” said Bhandare.
“The GCCI is with the GBOA during this crisis and will put in all efforts to ensure that barge owners get a fair deal and mining resumes in the State,” he added.
