PANJIM: As many as 26 village panchayats from the mining belts have approached the Supreme Court with an interlocutory application (IA) seeking impleadment in the Goa mining case, which is likely to be heard on August 18.
The representatives today also called on Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik seeking his intervention in immediate resumption of the mining industry claiming that the closure of the industry has taken toll on economy and employment in these villages, which comprises of nearly 1.5 lakh populations.
Advocate Amey Kakodkar said that 26 panchayat have moved Supreme Court seeking impleadment in the mining cases, related to challenging Abolition Act. “The matter is likely to come up for hearing on August 18,” he said.
Mining has been stopped in Goa from March 16, 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases in the state.
“We request you (Governor) to extend help to restore the livelihood to our constituent population, who are directly and indirectly depending upon the mining operations for their sustenance of livelihood by immediately resuming mining operations in the State,” the sarpanch said in their representation to the Governor.
Kakodkar said that the Governor gave hearing to the grievances of these panchayat bodies, and is also of the view that resumption of mining activities is only solution for revival of the State economy which is hit due to COVID pandemic.
