Goa: Expect mining jobs in next 3 months, says CM Pramod Sawant

PANAJI: Stating that his government was committed to resuming the mining industry in the state, chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday that the passage of the Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill, 2021, in the recently-concluded session of the state legislative assembly was a step towards that direction.
He assured the gathering of largely mining-dependent people that they can hope to get occupation in the mining industry within the next three months.
“Some say that the passage of the Mining Corporation Bill is just lip service by the government. But the government’s efforts are sincere. As I also come from the mining belt, I can well understand the pain of the mining-dependents. My government is committed to ensuring that everybody who lost their livelihoods after the closure of the mines finds gainful employment soon in the industry,” he said, speaking at a public meeting at Dharbandora during his tour of Sanvordem constituency.
He said that while auctioning of mining leases and transportation of the already-extracted 20 million tonnes of ore will happen within the next three months, a “permanent solution” for mining will be worked out through the Goa Mining Corporation once it is formed. The Bill passed in the assembly will facilitate the formation of a state-run corporation “to carry out mining operations in an orderly, scientific and ecologically-sustainable manner,” he said. The Bill is awaiting the governor’s assent.
The Supreme Court, last month, dismissed a petition filed by the state government seeking review of its February 2018 order that cancelled the operation of 88 mining leases of the state on the grounds that there were irregularities in their renewal process. The apex court did not consider a similar petition of a mining company as well.
Mining in Goa came to a halt in March 2018, following the apex court’s judgement quashing the second renewal of 88 mining leases. The state government, through the proposed state-run mining corporation, is considering opening new iron ore mines, other than the 88 leases which are a subject of litigation before the Supreme Court.