Rs 3000-6000 for mining jobless
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 28 January 2013 21:06 IST
Goa government has announced compensation between Rs 3000 to Rs 6000 to those who were employed in mining related activities and are rendered jobless.
This was disclosed by Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo while delivering his address on the first day of the winter Assembly session today.
The governor, while speaking on behalf of the Manohar Parrikar government, has also declared that the Lokayukta would become functional by the end of March.
The Lokayukta office is ready and the shortlisted name of Lokayukta has been referred to the Chief Justice of Bombay high court, stated Wanchoo.
While speaking extensively on the mining crisis, the Governor said the total loss to Goan economy is Rs 20,000 crore.
"The direct loss on mining royalty is to the tune of Rs 1000 crore per annum approximately and the indirect loss is Rs 450 crore", he stated.
The governor also stated that close to 3.5 lakh people have been impacted due to closure of mines in the state.
In order to provide relief to the mining-affected people, the governor said his government has created 400 permanent posts of forest guards, half of which covers the land mass.
While announcing compensation to the jobless in mining activities, he said the government intends to spend at least Rs 15 crore every month during the calendar year as interim relief to them.
In the background of current mining scenario, the governor said his government is planning to make tourism a vibrant sector playing a significant role.
Over the next five years, the governor said Goa expects 45 lakh domestic tourists and 15 lakh foreign tourists every year.
The governor admitted that the cumulative growth in the primary sector is negative as against the targeted rate of four per cent.
He said the government is laying maximum efforts to revive the agriculture sector and make it remunerative for the farmers.
"The state is targeting a growth of over six per cent in the current year in the agriculture sector", said the governor.
