Mining Front differs on natioalisation
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 23 May 2013 20:33 IST
Christopher Fonseca at GMPF press meet
The Goa Mining People’s Front is not demanding nationalisation of mines, though its trade union leaders belonging to the CPI-led AITUC are for nationalisation.
“This is a front of several organisations and we admit there are differences of opinion within, on this issue”, says Adv Suhas Naik, convenor of the GMPF.
Christopher Fonseca, the trade union leader, also admits that the GMPF has not targeted the mine owners but only the governments – central and state – to demand short-term damage control measures for the people affected due to closure of mining in Goa.
“But the AITUC has prayed for nationalisation in our intervention application before the Supreme Court and the GMPF has also demanded action against all the mine owners, based on the Shah Commission report.
The GMPF consists of truck and barge operators, workers as well as the trading class dependent on mining.
At a GMPF press conference, Suresh Desai, president of the North Goa Truck Owners’ Association, informed that they have demanded compensation of Rs 40,000 per truck from the mine owners.
The issue came up at the GMPF press conference why they are not targeting the mine owners but only the central and state governments when the loot of illegal mining is taken away by the mine owners.
"Mineral is a national wealth. Why should few individuals earn from it? The industry should be nationalised so that the common people can benefit from it," Fonseca clarifies position of the AITUC.
However, he also clarifies that the GMPF had decided at the conceptualising stage of the body that the issue of nationalisation will not be taken up by them.
He however refuted the allegation that mine owners were lobbying through GMPF to get the iron ore extraction activity started in Goa.
"The mine owners are not a part of GMPF. If you find a single mine owner amongst us, we will take action," Fonseca said.
