Panaji: Thousands of people marched in the capital city of Panaji on Thursday demanding immediate resumption of Iron Ore mining activity, which has been on the hold since last one year.
The people dependent on mining industry under the banner of Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) held a protest march in Panaji on Thursday morning.
Nearly 7,000 people participated in the march which began at campal ground in the city and culminated at historic Azad Maidan.
The Iron Ore mining activity in the State has been closed since March last year after Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases. The GMPF has been demanding that Central government should amend existing mining laws to ensure that the leases get new life.
Delegation of GMPF also submitted a memorandum to Chief Secretary Parimal Rai.
Addressing the mining dependents, GMPF President Puti Gaonkar said that the State can work out solution with the intervention of the Supreme Court.
“ Goa government can file an affidavit before Supreme Court for consideration of Goa Daman
and Diu (abolition and declaration of mining leases) Act 1987, with prospective effect. This will also help the leases to get prolonged life till the year 2037,” he said.
Gaonkar said that state should appoint a senior council to represent it in the Supreme
Court instead of Additional Solicitor General Atamaram Nadkarni, who is currenty representing Goa government.
