FOLLOW SC MANDATE ON RESUMPTION OF MINING STEPHEN DIAS, DONA PAULA
Utmost due diligence should be exercised when resumption of mining begins in accordance with the guidelines laid out by the Supreme Court. The formation of a Mining Corporation is of utmost importance and all of us Goans should reap the benefits of mining in the form of Mining dividend. The interests of the larger mining community and dependents have to be addressed, who earn their living by the sweat of their brows. It should be emphasized here that the government have indicated a hike in the water and electricity charges. Also, the minimum support price of food grains like rice, wheat, pulses, and sugar cane have been hiked and these will translate into higher prices of these essential commodities as even sugar during the festive season will become costlier. Also, the Reserve Bank of India in its quarterly Monetary Policy has increased the Repo rate and thus this move is an endorsement by the RBI that inflation is on the higher side. Taking these realities into consideration, it should be uppermost in our minds to protect the interests of the affected working class who have to toil in order to make ends meet. Resumption of mining should also take the sensitive issue of environmental concerns as our eco-system should not be adversely affected due to haphazard mining activity.
