Requests Central government to consider legislative amendments in Goa Daman and Diu Act 1987 in the Mineral reform policy for immediate restart of Goa Mining.
Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF), has been at the forefront in the on-going fight to protect livelihood of 3, 00,000 mining dependent population of the Goa State whose livelihood has been lost/endangered due to the mining ban since 2018. In the response to Central Govt Notice dated 24th August posted by Ministry of Mines on its website for public consultation called, “Note on Proposal for Mining Reforms, GMPF has suggested to the Central Government to consider amendments to ‘The Goa Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration of Mining Leases Act, 1987, by making this abolition act prospective from 1987 by amending the current provision of it being retrospective.
This suggestion is in line with State of Goa who has been reportedly written to the Union Government on multiple occasion since 2018 for legislative cure/amendment, which shall clarify the period of Lease until 2037 by making abolition act Prospective( ie 50 Years as mandated under MMDR Act 2015). This proposed reform will bring Goa on-par with other states in the Union of India to harmonize with the MMDR Act amendment of 2015 because the current inequality allows all other states except Goa to extend/ Renew life of lease for a period of 50 years from earlier provision of 20 years. This suggestion will also be in line with the objective of the proposed reforms, to accelerate growth, increase employment and stimulate the economy progressively to recover from the dampening impact of Covid-19.
On the Amendment towards DMF (District Mineral Funds), rules and guidelines, GMPF has stressed the need to use the funds to create alternate employment in addition to agricultural schemes, for sustaining long-term opportunities for employment in the mining belt. This can be done through skill training other specialised educational programs, providing micro finance and credit to local entrepreneur, self-help groups for encouraging the growth of an entrepreneurial generation not directly related to mining thus creating alternate source of livelihood.
The note issued by Ministry of Mines specified a series of policy changes in the mining sector under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan for increasing private investments, transparent resource allocation and to strike a harmonious balance between employment and environment in the Mineral Sector. The state of Goa is currently facing largescale unemployment issues due to the crises in tourism industry due to pandemic situation which had added to the livelihood losses faced in the state due to mining ban.
GMPF President Mr. Puti Gaonkar, said, “We appreciate Ministry of Mines initiative of considering comments and suggestions from the General public, Govt of states, mining industry and other stakeholders on the proposed reforms in the mineral sector. Goa’s mining industry and the livelihood of lakhs of mining dependent population has been neglected in all its Policy reforms incorporated by central Government in the past and this time also there seems to be nothing in Goa’s interest in proposed Reforms in mineral sector. It may be because of lack of consultation between State and centre, which is extremely worrisome because Goa’s mining industry and Goa’s Economy at large, is being neglected by Central Govt, in spite of severe damage to state economy in past couple of years after the mining ban. Hence we have proposed to Union ministry for amendment in ‘The Goa Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration of Mining Leases Act’) 1987’. We have suggested the above addition in the reforms in the mineral sector proposed by Union Ministry of Mines, to bring about equality for the state of Goa and get it in par with other state to renew/extend the leases as per MMDR Act amendment 2015. The said amendment shall clarify the period of lease in Goa until 2037( 50 years as provided under MMDR Act amendment 2015) by making the abolition act 1987 prospective to make it prospective by changing the current provision of it being retrospective.”.
Mr.Goankar further added “On the Amendment towards DMF (Distric Mineral Funds), rules and guidelines, we have stressed the need to use the funds towards creating alternate employment in the mining belt for sustaining the long-term livelihood employment requirement of the people in mining belt. We have seen the devastating effect of depending on the single industry and the same mistake should be avoided.”.
By various estimates, the state of Goa has faced a loss of around Rs. 7000 crores in the last two years due to the stoppage of mining industry. Also, Goa had the largest unemployment rate in the country before the pandemic and now the unemployment is multi-fold due to the crises in Tourism sector.