Hundreds of CPI-M workers converged at the Azad Maidan in Panaji capital city of Goa after
winding through the main streets of the city on Wednesday morning
demanding immediate resumption of legal mining and compensation to the
people affected directly or indirectly due to ban on mining operations
in the state. They also demanded formation of Goa Mineral Development
Corporation.
CPIM Central Committee member and CITU All India President Com Tapan Sen charged political parties for alleged
mining irregularities in the state as well as in Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh. Com. Sen stated that private mining firms and government officials are
responsible for the present mining industry crisis and as such they
should be brought to book and punished accordingly for the mining scam.
He demanded immediate resumption of legal mining or some kind of
assistance to those who are directly or indirectly affected by halting
of mining operations. "The initiative should come from the central
government as well as from state government to compensate these
stakeholders of mining industry," he stated. He further said that nearly one lakh workers have been affected due
to ban on mining and if there are four members in a family then the
equation comes to nearly four lakh people and added that this is a very
big number for a small state like Goa. He said that mine owners are now shying away from their
responsibility and are well aware that there is no demand for iron ore
either in European or Chinese markets so they are silent and "once the
demand goes up then slowly they will reopen and export the ore for
better price." "This is not the case of Goa alone similar situation is prevailing
throughout the nation wherever there are mines and ore is being expor
ted," he stated. He said that if Goan ore extraction is 67 million tonnes per year
the mines will be exhausted or closed for want of ore. He said it should
be streamlined through formation of Goa Mineral Development
Corporation.
CPI-M Goa State Secretary Com Thalmann Pereira cautioned that if
legal mining was not resumed with immediate effect they would make ‘life
miserable’ for the concerned ministers and MLAs. Com. Jatin Naik and Com. Sugandhi Francis vice-president of Akhil Bhartiya Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana, also spoke.
