PANAJI | March 26, 2015: While the government continues to assure the mining ban affected people that mining activity will start soon, the state budget has made a provision of 120 crore to provide financial assistance to them.
Mining activity in the state is set to resume very soon, chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar said and added, "I intend to keep all my promises of financial assistance to various affected groups and stakeholders (barge, truck and machinery operators) and I have made a provision of 120 crore for this propose."
The budget provision of financial assistant for mining affected people will make mining dependents think twice whether mining activities will really commence in the state from the next season, a mining company official, who did not want to be named, said.
Last year a total of 8,397 persons benefited from the welfare of mining affected people scheme with the disbursal of 112.55 crore to them so far.
With the 30% of export duty, low price for low-grade iron ore, mining plan has to be cleared by Indian Bureau of Mines and the mining companies have to obtain consent to operate under water act and air act, it appears that there is no light to the end of the tunnel for the mining ban hit people.
The state government and central government might have cleared the hurdle for resumption of mining activities in the state, but there is still long time for actual resumption of mining activities in the state, a mining company official said.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)