PANAJI: Mining ban in Goa is showing its impact in the state with Vedanta, a major mining company directing its employees not to come for work from Thursday.
The order has been issued less than a week after the ban ordered by the apex court came into effect on March 16. On Wednesday, Vedanta issued notices to all employees (staff and workmen) involved in mining to not report for duty until further notice. The notice issued on March 21 is with immediate effect.
The order says that the company will only need critical and statutory manpower to carry out dewatering for safety and security in the mines. “Those who will be required to carry out the above mentioned jobs will be communicated individually. The allied services like canteen and transport will be stopped from tomorrow,” says the notice.
Vedanta has attributed the notice to “circumstances beyond control” and because of instructions from the government to stop extraction of ore on account of the Supreme Court order. A spokesperson said that the company is unable to continue with the operations of mines and the notice is to reduce operating costs.
“The notice is only for Bicholim mines,” said the spokesperson who added that the company will be paying salaries. However, it is addressed to all employees and workers in Sesa Mining Corporation and raised fears of job loss among them. Vedanta in all its operations in Goa employs about 3,000 people, directly and indirectly.
Ironically, mining companies during their meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday had said that there would be no retrenchments because of the industry shutdown.