Navhind Times | 1 year ago | 13-01-2022 | 01:38 am
People are angry with false assurances given by the BJP govt on restarting operations: Puti GaonkarShoma PatnaikPanaji: With as much as 23% of Goa’s electorate residing in mining-dominated constituencies, the closure of iron ore mining for the last four years is expected to swing votes in a big way in the coming assembly elections. Iron ore mining was stopped on March 16, 2018, after the Supreme Court cancelled 88 leases.“The sudden closure made residents of mining constituencies lose permanent jobs. Many took up alternate jobs. However, the jobs were taken up reluctantly due to lack of choice. Truck drivers employed with mining companies became security guards. The money they previously got by way of bonus, gratuity, PF and medical benefits is not there in their present jobs,” said a resident of the mining belt.Sanvordem, Quepem, Valpoi, Poriem, Sanguem, Curchorem, Quepem, Mayem, Sanquelim and Bicholim, comprising 2.04 lakh voters, are the constituencies with population largely dependent on mining.According to Puti Gaonkar, president, Goa Mining People Front (GMPF), post the closure of mining, not many were re-employed in other industries. “Due to COVID-19, the hospitality industry is also not offering adequate jobs. People are angry with false assurances of restarting mining by the present government. The issue of restarting operations has been made complicated though the Supreme Court order is clear. As dependents, our stand is always to restart mining in any way. If auction is not possible, we welcome the mining corporation. Even there, the government is delaying. They have only fooled the people. It will reflect in the votes,” he said.Atul Jadhav, chairman, CII-Goa, also believes that closure of mines will be an issue in the coming elections because many perceive that not much has been done to restart operations and “whatever has been done has not worked out.”Neelkant Gawas, the All Goa Truck Owners Association, said people in the mining belt had lost faith that the present government would restart work. “Mining dependents now feel the industry has been purposefully stopped to allow entry of Ambani, Adani, Jindal and Vedanta. The government has said that it will export waste ore dumped outside lease areas and give employment to people. It is a statement made without thought because waste dumps have to be used to refill old mining pits to return the land back to its original state. Exporting dumped ore can cause huge ecological problems,” he said.MLAs in the mining belt were worried because of the impact on voter psyche. “The silence of the Union government on a solution to Goa’s mining woes is angering the people,” said Gawas.Environmentalists and eco-tourism stakeholders are happy about the dust-free environment following the closure of mining. On the other hand, large populations in the mining belt do not have alternative sources of income. To re-start mining activities, the government petitioned the Supreme Court for amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDRA) and the Goa, Daman & Diu Mining Concession (Abolitions & Declaration of Mining Leases) Act – Abolition Act, both of which were turned down. The government set up the Goa Mineral Development Corporation, signed an MOU with the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. for identification of iron ore blocks for auction, and appointed SBI Caps as the transaction adviser for the auction process. But with the election code of conduct in force now, the auction process is incomplete.
Share:
Tagged: |
