Sankhalim: Goa cannot be completely dependent on mining industry in the days to come as no one knows how long the state can continue mining the resources, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.
Addressing a gathering at his assembly constituency of Sankhalim, Sawant said that the mining will resume again in the State but “we have to think how long this industry is going to continue.”
The Chief Minister was referring to the limitated availability of mineral resources in the State, which will exhaust in the few years from now.
“Goa has been mining ore since last 50 years, but how long, it can continue. We don’t know how many years, we can continue mining,” he said.
“We cannot be completely dependent on mining. When it comes to employment or jobs, we need to think different from banking on mining industry,” said Sawant, who had termed himself as “son of a mining dependent” in the past.
The mining industry in the State has come to standstill since February, 2018 after Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases.
The chief minister appealed youth to look at skilled education and other opportunities, diversifying from the mining industry.
“Gone are the days when youth used to think that he can make living from the trucks that his father owns. He could study till tenth standard and join the business,” he said.
Sawant said that the youth should scout for self employment opportunities which can widen horizon of their growth across the globe, and not just restricted to Goa.
