Ponda: Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) on Friday urged the centre and the state government to provide lasting solution for resumption of mining activities in the state.
Several thousand people are left without livelihood since February 2018 when Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases bringing the entire industry to halt.
GMPF President Puti Gaonkar, addressing a press conference in Ponda town on Friday said that the mining dependents appeal judiciary, State Government and the Government of India for their urgent intervention for enabling lasting solution for the resumption of mining activities in the state.
Gaonkar said that it has been two years since the mining has been closed down the second time after the first closure in 2012.
“The economic condition of the people is in very bad shape apart from the falling Government revenue slowing down the general development of the state,” he said.
Goa government has filed a review petition before the Supreme Court in connection with February 2018 order which has quashed 88 mining leases.
Goa based NGO Goa Foundation had filed case in the Supreme Court after which the mining has come to a standstill.
Gaonkar also said that the mining dependents strongly criticize the negative role played by the NGO by bringing in hindrance in the process of restarting the mining in Goa.
“They have all legal rights to do so and the matter is up to the Supreme Court to give decision but hope the decision will in the interest to protection of employment and safeguarding the livelihood of people with immediate restart of mining in the state,” he said.
“People’s patience is running out due to their pathetic economic conditions and so we appeal to all NGOs to act responsibly in the interest of common peoples,” he said.
“People in the mining belt are now fed-up with the NGO as their basic necessities are slipping away due to the unemployment,” Gaonkar said.
He said that the mining dependents are closely monitoring the movement of NGO activities that are going against our livelihood.
