Porvorim | March 27, 2015: Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the state assembly on Thursday that in all probability mining would start in the next season —in October after the monsoon.
"Though I expected mining to start now, since restrictions are lifted but it doesn't look feasible as just a month-and-a-half is left for the season to end. If miners start work now, they will have to entail huge operational costs," said Parsekar during 'Question Hour' while replying to a question posed by opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane.
The opposition leader had sought to know what measures were taken by the government to ease the economic worries of the people affected by the stoppage of mining. Apart from truck owners, barge owners, people who are indirectly dependant on mining to earn their livelihood, Rane said are also hit. The government should also do something for this section. "Hoteliers, mechanics and grocery shop owners have been rendered jobless," he said.
He said it would not be wise to wait till mining starts and hope to turn everything like before and requested the government to conduct survey to examine the impact of stoppage of mining on Goan economy, and be prepared to move on, if mining doesn't start.
Parsekar said 25,000 families were affected when mining came to a standstill in September 2012. The government has provided economic aid to truck owners, earthmovers' owners while barge owners are yet to get benefits.
In total, government has spent 112 crore towards aid to persons affected by stoppage of mining.
Also, a one-time settlement (ATS) is on offer for barge owners, truck owners and earthmovers' owners.
"I'm in complete agreement with the opposition leader. We have done what can be done, and will do whatever more needs to be done," said Parsekar while responding to subsidiary queries by Rane and other members.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)