Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Apr 7: The people dependent on Goa’s mining industry on Friday met a senior officer from Niti Aayog to brief him about the latest developments regarding resumption of mining industry in the State.

Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF), a union of mining dependents led by its President Puti Gaonkar, met Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog Dr Rajiv Kumar in New Delhi on Friday and briefed him about the latest developments in Goa Mining resumption issue including judicial interventions by the Union Mines Ministry and the union (GMPF).

Gaonkar said that Kumar assured that the issue of Goa shall be taken up on priority in the committee constituted to suggest a way ahead on mining matters in the Country.

“Kumar also stated that he will take up the matter for discussion with the Union Mines Secretary in the forthcoming days to help find a resolution during the upcoming hearing,” he added.

The delegation also met with Dr. Alok Srivastava, Union Law secretary and explained the sufferings faced by 3,00,000 Goa mining dependents for more than a year and that their only hopes lies in the upcoming hearing tentatively listed in the Supreme Court on April 15.

“The Union Law secretary assured that the Union Government would take all appropriate steps to ensure that the livelihood of Goans is protected,” said Gaonkar.

The union leader said that after meeting with the key stakeholders in Delhi, he sees some silver lining for lacs of Goans who have been suffering with grief and uncertainty since past one year.

“I am also hopeful of resumption of mining operations in the State after the upcoming hearing in the Supreme Court of India,” he added.

The Delegation also made representations of Goan Mining Industry before Industry Associations like Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) and The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).