Ganesh Chaturthi fails to bring life back in Goa’s mining areas

NP NEWS NETWORK

Goa

With Ganesh Chaturthi festivities being close to only two days, the situation in the iron ore rich mining belts of the State remains grim as the industry shows no signs of resumption.

The Hindu population dominated mining belts in both the districts have witnessed significant decrease in the economic activities as the source of income for the people living in this has ceased since March this year when Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases.

“People are suffering as they can’t handle their day-to-day living. The festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi used to be a major occasion for them. But with no finances at hand, they have to let it go,” said Puti Gaonkar, President, Goa Mining People’s Front, an union of people dependent on the mining industry.

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He said that all the hopes are currently pinned on the State government who has assured to resume the industry by October, which is next month.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had visited Delhi last month and held meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Group of Ministers on mining.

Back in Goa’s mining hotbed including Pale, Velguem, Sonshi in North Goa and Sanguem, Quepem in South Goa are wearing deserted look. Saduguru Gawas, a local, claimed that the people have already migrated out of the villages as mining was the sole economic activity here.

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“You will find  locked houses, shops which are not opened for months and hardly any people on the road,” said  Gawas, who worked as supervisor on the iron ore beatification plant of V M Salgaoncar mining company and was forced to take Voluntary Retirement way back in the year 2012 when mining industry was closed for the first time after supreme court verdict.

Gawas, who has been living in this belt  since his birth, claims that the Pale market used to be abuzz with activity during Ganesh Chaturthi.

“There used to be a time when people were flooding the shops for marketing of Ganesh Chaturthi items. Now there is no demand from them as people can’t shell out money,” he said.

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Gawas said that many shops in these belts have closed down.

Another mining dependent, Ashok Naik faced similar fate that of Gawas in the year 2012 when supreme court imposed suspension of mining activity. Both of them were working together and were forced to retire.

Naik  said that the entire area has literally crippled economically. “You wont find any tyre puncture repair shop or proper restaurant in the entire area. The business has collapsed,” he said.

Gurudas Khambi one of the most prominent businessman in this area stated that his business has been reduced by 70 per cent. His shop selling grocery and other necessary items once had people queuing up. “Now there is hardly any business. This does not look like Ganesh Chaturhi,” he said.