Panaji: The mining dependents have planned to stage yet another Dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, from tomorrow -April 9 pressing for their demand for immediate resumption of the iron ore activities in the State, which are shut since last 13 months.
This is the second time that mining dependents are staging protest in Delhi. In December 2018 had held a similar dharna at Jantar Mantar and Ram Leela Maidan,; however, their voices remained unheard.
GMPF president Puti Gaonkar said that the mining dependents, who are suffering livelihood uncertainty owing to abrupt closure of mining, have planned to stage a three days Dharna at Jantar mantar from 9th April onwards, demanding immediate resumption of mining.
The leader said that Supreme Court banned mining activities in February 2018, without considering the impact on the livelihood of the residents of more than 50 percent area of the state.
“A sizable population of Goa finds gainful employment in the mining sector either directly or indirectly as truck owners, drivers, barge operators, road mechanics or through other related self-employment ventures. Approximately 60,000 are likely to be rendered without any means of livelihood especially when there is no alternate source of income, impacting over 3,00,000 people,” Gaonkar claimed.
