Goa's mining dependent people unsure of their future: Front

A forum of mining-dependent people in Goa today said despite the Supreme Court lifting ban on extraction of iron ore in the state, several issues remain unresolved and demanded a clear cut policy from the goverment.
"There is no clarity on issues like what will happen to the existing man-force. Will they be absorbed in the mining operations? Whether the same set of mine owners will get those (new) leases and if not then, whether the new ones will retain the old workforce?" Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF) convener Suhas Naik said addressing media here.
Early this week, the apex court lifted the 18-month long iron ore mining ban in Goa and put an annual production cap of 20 million tonnes.

The SC said mining leases which were not renewed after 2007 will be rendered illegal. Goverment records indicate that none of the leases barring one has been renewed.
There should be surety of jobs for the existing manpower who have been working in these mining leases for several years, Naik said, adding as of today, the mining dependent people are unsure of their future.
The front, formed after the SC imposed ban on mining operations in Goa in 2012 following illegalities, represents workers, truck, barge & machinery owners who were actively engaged in this field.

Though Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has set a deadline of January next year to start full-fledged mining operations, the front said it is difficult to do so.

If leases are allotted to new mine owners, they will take time to install new machinery, a process which can not be completed overnight, Naik added.
The government should announce what would be the criteria for allotting new leases, he said, adding the front will seek an appointment with the Chief Minsiter to get clarity on the issue.
Parrikar on Tuesday said his administration will come out with a new policy in the next couple of months to decide the fate of existing mining leases.