MAPUSA
In bid to restart mining activity in the State, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that the government was gearing up for auctioning of mining blocks on priority and the first round of such auction process was proposed to be completed in the next 3-4 months.
Sawant also said that experienced workforce available in Goa is expected to get employment opportunities once the mining activity resumes in the State.
“The State will explore the possibility of giving preference in employment to the existing workforce through successful bidders after the auction process is completed. Our stand is to give preference to those workers who were working on the lease. Not only Vedanta, all companies who bag the lease will have to give first opportunity to locals,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister was responding to a Calling Attention motion raised by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye over concerns of the employees who were recently retrenched by Vedanta Sesa.
Sawant, who also holds the mining portfolio, reiterated that the government was bound to comply with the statutory requirements and court orders in re-starting mining activity in the State.
He further said that the government has already taken concrete steps for resumption of mining activity through the auction process.
He informed the House that while the State has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mineral Exploration Consultancy Limited (MECL), a Government of India enterprise, for providing Geological reports, the State has decided to engage services of SBICAP Securities Limited for transaction advisory services for preparation of bid documents and conduct of bid process.
He said the Directorate of Mines and Geology was expected to sign the agreement with SBICAP in a couple of days.
“The State has also proposed to engage MSTC auction platform for conduct of auctioning process even as a High Powered Committee is being set up to monitor the auction process in a time bound manner,” Sawant said and added that the Directorate of Mines & Geology has set up a Special Auction Cell to expedite the auction process.
Earlier, Bicholim MLA, Chandrakant Shetye appealed to the government to look into the matter of the 800 odd workers who were recently retrenched and given a package of 15 days salary per annum as settlement amount.
“The benefit given by the company is minimal. These workers have worked for 10 to 15 years. Their children are still studying and some have also taken loans. How will they survive?” Shetye asked.
He said the government should request the company to increase the compensation amount and also ensure that the new companies that win the mining bid give preference to these retrenched workers.
“Every time the government says it will start mining in six months…We need an assurance from the House when the mining will actually start,” he said.
Leader of Opposition, Michael Lobo said the government should come out with a model of how it is going to restart the mining by following all the court directions.
“There are truck owners, mechanics, vegetable vendors, food suppliers etc…all these people need our help. The mining should start soon. Secondly, it is important to know whether a mining company that wins the bid will employ our Goan people or not,” Lobo said.
