Mining dependants hope Shah will announce solution during Goa visit

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

The Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF), an umbrella organisation of mining dependants, has expressed hope that national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party Amit Shah will announce a concrete solution for resumption of iron ore mining in the state, during his visit to Goa on February 9.

Shah will address the state BJP workers during the Atal Booth Karyakarta Sammelan, to be held at the athletic stadium at Bambolim on Saturday as a part of preparation for the Lok Sabha election.

Speaking to this daily on Thursday, president of GMPF Puti Gaonkar said that the mining dependants expect that Shah will announce a concrete solution to Goa’s mining problem during his visit to the state following the assurance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting with the Goa mining delegation on February 6 in New Delhi.

“We hope the Prime Minister has told Shah to make an announcement on mining issue during his meeting in Goa on February 9. Thus, we will wait to hear it from the BJP president,” he said.

Gaonkar further said that GMPF will decide on February 8 on whether to meet Shah on February 9. The GMPF leader reiterated that the mining dependants are firm on their decision that they will work against the BJP candidates during the Lok Sabha election if no concrete solution for resumption of mining operations in the state comes by February 13.

“February 13 is our deadline for a solution from the Centre on the mining tangle. If no solution comes then the mining dependants will aggressively work against BJP candidates in

North Goa and South Goa during the Lok Sabha election,” he said. According to him, the Prime Minister must have understood the seriousness on the issue of mining dependants, who are fighting for their livelihood since a year.

“I have explained to the Prime Minister in detail about how mining dependants have been struggling for livelihood since last one year and what can be a solution for resumption of mining operations,” Gaonkar said, hoping that when Prime Minister assures that he would look into the matter, a solution should come as early as possible.