Take over mine lease if workers retrenched: Activists
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 25 February 2013 20:03 IST
Bhushan Bhave and Ramesh Gawas
Social activists have demanded that government should take over the mining leases if any mine owner retrenches the workers.
A demand has also been made that the mining dumps should be exported by the Supreme court appointing a receiver.
A cap of not more than five leases to one company has also been demanded.
The discussion was organised by Goa RTI Forum at International Centre Goa.
Ramesh Gawas, a teacher and another college lecturer Bhushan Bhave were the main speakers at the mining workshop organised by Goa RTI Forum on Sunday.
Gawas vehemently opposed retrenchment of mining workers and alleged that mine owners are still not bothered about the people who are suffering.
"I feel the government should withdraw the lease if any lease holder retrenches the workers. These lease holders have made crores of rupees on illegal mining and can't they feed the workers for sometime", he asked.
He also said that NGOs are blamed when actually present crisis has occurred due to irresponsible mining by the mine owners.
"People have no guts to come out openly against the mine owners who have actually created this crisis with illegal and irresponsible mining. Why blame the NGOs for that", he asked.
Bhushan Bhave, who has studied the whole Shah Commission report thoroughly, said he has no sympathy for the mushroomed mine-dependent people, who obviously became rich overnight due to illegal mining.
"But there are also around 20 to 25 thousand people who were dependent on mining and have been made jobless. Not only the government but all of us should suggest ways and means to sustain them", he said.
Social activist advocate Satish Sonak suggested that the mining dumps of extracted ore should either be taken over by the government or the court should appoint a receiver to export this ore.
"The government or the court should then utilise this money to look after the genuinely affected people", said Adv Sonak amidst applause.
