PONDA, Dec. 1 -- The Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF) has demanded that the State government impose a condition that new lease holders employ retrenched Goan mine workers when they resume operations, if they want to restart mining without any hurdles. While condemning a recent statement from the Director of Mines and Geology, who said it is not mandatory for bidders participating in the auction of mining leases to employ retrenched Goan mine workers, GMPF President Puti Gaonkar warned of widespread agitations if the government failed to safeguard the interests of the mining-dependants, who lost their livelihoods when mining was halted, nearly a decade ago.
"There is already a provision in the law to employ retrenched workers, even if the l...