Goa sarpanches have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save their livelihood by resuming iron ore mines that have been closed for five years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 19 coming to goa for 60 years of Goa Liberation Day.
More than 20 sarpanches of Goa’s mining area have written a letter to PM Modi, saying that more than five lakh people in Goa were fully dependent on mining for their livelihood but mining is completely closed since 2018. Due to this the right of livelihood given to the citizens under the Constitution is also in danger.
Sarpanch surya naik says that Goa had nominated Shri Narendra Modi as Prime Minister in 2013, now Modi ji should resume mining and give return gift. We want that mining should resume in Goa this time before the elections. Another sarpanch, Siddharth Desai says that, tourism is almost closed in Goa for the last two years due to covid and common people have no work as well as there is no source of income due to the closure of mining. In such a situation, our appeal to PM Modi is to save our livelihood.
In the letter written to the PM, the sarpanches have said that we have apprised all the representatives of the state many times about our helplessness and situation. Since the closure of mining from the year 2018, we are constantly talking to the state government and other stakeholders with mining so that mining can be resumed. We have been told that a way out can be found both through parliamentary and legal means. We have also appealed to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ji to take initiative in this regard. But now we are getting frustrated and there is no hope. Only you can save us from this.
It is written in the letter that as you know Goa elections are going to be held next year and we also want your party to come to power again but till this process is done, till then we the villagers of Goa and the livelihood of 5 lakh people appeal to Solve the problem of bread and butter. Both the central and state government are fully aware of the whole matter. We appeal to you again that this is the right time when you can save millions of lives by resuming mining in Goa on time.
It is worth noting that since the year 2018, the then Parrikar government has completely banned iron ore mining in Goa and now this matter is also legally stuck in the Supreme Court. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that he wants to start 8 mines by forming a mining corporation but more than 300 mines are closed in Goa. Many people are raising the question that the problems of livelihood will not be solved by starting only 8 mines. Along with this, even if the Mining Corporation gives permission, it will take at least two to three years.
those who signed letter includes Village Panchayat Rivona. Village Panchayat Bhati, Village Panchayat Seldem, Village Panchayat Kardi. More than 20 sarpanches, including village panchayat Uradi, have signed. There are 40 gram panchayats in Goa through which the local administration is run. In Goa, development work is done only through the local mineral fund, but due to the closure of mining, development has come to a standstill.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party has given an election slogan that if they come to power, they will startresume in six months, but Claude Alvaris of Goa Foundation, who fought a legal battle against mining, says that they are fooling people, at least in Goa. Mining cannot start for two years. Meanwhile Mining is also becoming an election issue in Goa.
