Restart legal mining in Goa: All India Trade Union Congress

PANAJI: All India Trade Union Congress' Goa unit has decided to launch a massive signature campaign, lobbying to restart legal mining in the state.

The Supreme Court recently halted the transportation and extraction of ore in Goa pending report from the Centrally Empowered Committee, which has been given four weeks time to probe the illegal mining in the state.

The labour union, under the banner of Goa Mining Labour Union, will file an intervention petition in the SC when the case would be heard next on November 2, AITUC Goa general secretary Christopher Fonseca told reporters here today.

Fonseca said the livelihood of around one lakh people, who are dependent on mining, is at stake due to uncertainty about the mining trade in Goa.

"We demand immediate restarting of legal mining business," he said, opposing the illegal mining.

The AITUC has also decided to collect mass signatures from the people and demand appropriate order or directives to start forthwith all legal mining operations in Goa to protect the livelihood of mining dependent people, he said.

The labour union has also formed an action committee of 15 members, which will spearhead and coordinate the movement of the mining dependent people and build up bridges between stakeholders in mining and their organisations.

"A rainbow of coalition of mining dependent people is on the anvil," he said.

The action committee has decided to hold meetings throughout Goa, especially in the mining belt, before calling for a mega convention in Margao and Panaji cities, respectively, Fonseca added.