Panaji: A union representing people dependent on the Iron Ore mining industry in Goa on Thursday welcomed the announcement of the State government to form State Mining Corporation with a rider that such a move should provide “practical solution” for the vexed issue.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday proposed to form Goa Mining Corporation to resume the Iron Ore extraction and export activity, which has been stalled following the Supreme Court order to quash 88 mining leases.
Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) President Puti Gaonkar reacted that the decision to form a corporation is a “welcome step”. He said that the Corporation should first help to restore back the jobs of mining dependents, who are suffering for the last many years.
“We the mining dependent people will be facing a disaster if any solutions are implemented which are not practical and mining on ground actually does not start,” he said.
Gaonkar said that the modalities of the Corporation are worked out and will be declared fast by the state government with time lines of restoring the lost employment till date at the same time protecting the current employment that has lingered till date.
“Declaring the intentions of the Mining Corporation without the road map to restore or protect employment has no meaning for mining dependent people,” he said. Gaonkar said that the road map of employment for workers at mines , trucks and barges needs to be spelt out along with declaration of the intention to form a corporation.
