PONDA | Nov 01, 2017: Mining dependants of the state will hold a protest against certain quarters for demanding reduction in annual mining cap to 12 million tonne per year from 30 million tonne – the extraction cap that has been pushed for by the state government in the Supreme Court.

Speaking to media persons at Ponda on Tuesday, mining dependants said that they have decided to block a major road at Pali-Usgaon in Bicholim taluka on November 2 to protest against the demand for reduction in the annual mining cap.

North Goa Truck Owners Association president Suresh Desai said that a particular NGO has filed an appeal in the SC demanding reduction in the mining cap to 12 million tonne per year from 20 million tonne, which was decided by the SC.

The NGO’s appeal is against the government’s demand for 30-million tonne annual cap.

The NGO’s move is against the mining dependants, as their livelihood will be threatened. The SC has already capped mining at 20 million tonne per year, which was around 40 to 50 million tonne per year in the past. Instead of seeking an increase in the mining cap, the NGO is demanding a reduction which will be detrimental to the mining dependants, said Sandeep Parab, president of the All-Goa Machinery Owners Association.

(Source: http://www.navhindtimes.in/)