Panaji: The people dependent on mining industry on Tuesday urged union home minister Amit Shah to convene meeting of group of ministers to ensure speedy resumption of mining in the state.
Goa Mining People’s Front, an umbrella organisation of mining dependents, held a public meeting on Tuesday at Usgao village, 40 kms away from here to demand for resumption of mining activity.
The mining industry in the state has come to a standstill since last year after Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases.
GMPF President Puti Gaonkar told reporters that the meeting demanded that shah should convene urgent meeting of group of ministers for resumption of mining operations in the State of Goa immediately.
“It was also decided that Considering the plight of the mining dependents, as there is no income for last eighteen months, the state government should give them the financial assistance of Rs.25,000/ per month and immediate assiatnce of Rs. one lakh before Ganesh Chaturthi, since almost all the mining dependents are required to pay the loan instalments,” he said.
“We have waited for too long now. The positive signs from the Home Minister are very encouraging to us. However, we have not achieved anything tangible in spite of our meetings earlier this year,” he added.
Gaonkar said that the mining dependents would also request for an appointment from the Home Minister in the presence of Goa Chief minister to help us put the plea of lakhs of mining dependents compellingly on the table.”
“The option of e-auction of ore or even ore dump sale is totally impractical and inadequate and cannot compenasate for loss in employment due to mining stoppage. Which can be seen in the recently held E-Auction wherein majority of the material went unsold,” he added.
