Date | Oct 06, 2017:

While the mining companies on one hand are trying their level best to begin the ore transportation even under police protection, on the other hand the sad atmosphere prevailing in the families dependent on mining activities is a huge cause for concern.

Since the government imposed a ban on mining activities in 2012 as a step towards controlling illegal mining, families in the mining belt area have been hit very badly.

Herald reporter visited Usgao, one of the villages affected by the mining ban. Despite the ban being lifted in 2015, the villagers appear to have lost their smile since most of them have not been able to return to the heydays they enjoyed during the mining season.

The shop owners, hotels supplying food, spare parts shops, garages for repairing punctures, etc, have not been able to restart their business activities like before.

While many truck owners are struggling to get ore transportation contracts, some have left this trade and gone back to till their agricultural land.

The financial condition has worsened, the villagers said, and living a simple life compared to their olden days is not possible.

Many families, who used to send their children to schools in Ponda town, can no longer do so and few of them have cancelled their admission from the town schools and send their kids to local or private schools in Usgao due to their financial constraints.

Laxmikant Naik and many truck owners who are seen idling their time in company of each other said that rates offered by mining companies are very less and hope the government comes to a suitable solution.

Salt is being rubbed into their wounds as the government has increased the taxes this year. Sources say if they want to put their trucks again on the roads they have to shell out lot of money. The truck owners said they have to spend Rs 8,000 on GPS, Rs 9,000 on Road Tax, Rs 9,700 on Speed Governor and passing, Rs 45,000 for Insurance, beside other expenses on maintenance, painting etc, amounting to around Rs one lakh.

Last season they suffered losses because of poor rates and after paying salaries to drivers they were left with little to spend on their families. Naik said with the few trips get for each truck, owners cannot earn more that 36,000 per month.

Laxmikant further said after the mining ban in 2012 the government had provided us relief by way of OTS scheme; likewise we need some scheme for our family and business to survive. He said government should provide them relief by giving them subsidy in diesel like that provided to fishing trawlers. He also said government should reduce the hiked taxes or concession in it to truck owners. Not only truck owners but also mining dependents hope government will find a solution and provide them suitable rates for transportation.

Former Panch member Tulshidas Gaad said mining was the main business in Usgao which is at the centre of mining transportation route. He said uneasy calm and peace prevail here as there is no business to for people.

Stating that he sold his truck long back due to losses he appealed the government to find suitable solution on mining rates so that it would give some relief to mining dependent people.

(Source: https://www.heraldgoa.in/)