PANAJI
During the recently held meeting at Pale, Bicholim Goa, Goa Mining Peoples Front (GMPF) expressed strong resentment about the fact that the mining solution has been dragged for 3 years over possible solutions since the second lease renewals of 88 leases were struck down by Supreme court wherein govt was asked to regrant the leases. GMPF is fighting for immediate mining restart and any expressed strong reservation over the viability of mining resumption via the State Mineral Corporation.
When GMPF had pointed fingers at the Goa Foundation for being the source of grief to 3,00,000 mining dependents in the State as it was their action that led to mining stoppage in the state. Goa Foundation had spoken about formation of a Mineral Corporation and further created confusion among Goans.
Puti Gaonkar, President, GMPF said, “We are fighting for getting back our livelihood at the earliest by resumption of mining in Goa and the fastest solution is ideal for getting back our livelihood. We see that the earliest solution is by legislative amendments. We do not see a mineral corporation being a viable alternative to mining resumption in the state of Goa as it will only delay the resumption of mining with issues like surface rights and perpetuity rights enjoyed by the mine owners."
“We have planned a protest on March 16 with machineries and trucks in front of the official residence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. We have also decided to handover keys of trucks and machineries to Sawant as these are lying idle for past 3 years and the debt against the loans taken are increasing manifold,” added Puti Gaonkar.
"We have lost our truck businesses that gave us livelihood, we cannot afford education for our children and we have lost respect as breadwinners in our family. We will have to come to the streets again and again to make our voice heard and at the same time I warn the NGO not to test our patience further and stop interfering in the solutions of mining restart, ” added Suresh Bandu Desai representing North Goa Truck Owners Association.
In the meeting, people dependent on mining discussed way forward and plan of action to seek attention of the Central government towards the wrenching condition of mining dependents in the state. In past 3 years, mining dependents have met and written letters/ representations/ memorandums to the Apex Court of India and ministries at both Central and State level. After the mining dependents lost faith in the Supreme court, they have been urging the Union Government to consider amendment in ‘The Goa Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration of Mining Leases Act, 1987).
