GMPF urges state govt to immediately resume mining

The Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF), which represents the cause of lakhs of people employed in the mining sector, on Monday urged the state government to immediately resume the mining activities to revive the state's economy, which has been significantly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Since the economic crisis reached its peak due to the outbreak of COVID-19 has severely hit the other sectors including tourism and other commercial establishments. It is difficult that the tourism sector will recover immediately due to the coronavirus pandemic, and restart of mining industry is the only way out for sustaining the state's economy and to control the free fall of unemployment in Goa," GMPF President Puti Gaonkar said in a statement.

The mining activity in Goa came to a halt in March 2018, resulting in job loss and unemployment in the state, he said.

"We appeal to the state government to pray and request the apex court to provide interim relief for the resumption of mining in the state during the upcoming hearing," Gaonkar said.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit economies globally which has resulted in sharp decline in tourists' footfalls in Goa, thereby deepening the financial hardships in the state and, thus, impacting the livelihood of people of the state who are dependent on tourism for sustenance of their basic needs, the GMPF president said.

He added that with both mining and tourism sectors witnessing a bleak future, full-scale mining operations should immediately be commenced after the lockdown period is over, so that there is some relief to the economic vulnerability of the Goa.