Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday told the House that first round of auction process of Iron Ore mining leases is proposed to be completed in next three-four months. Sawant was cornered by opposition benches including Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo, Goa Forward party MLA Vijai Sardesai, Independent MLA Chandrakant Shetye on the issue of retrenchment of staff by the mining companies.

The mining industry in the state has come to standstill since 2018 after Supreme Court quashed the mining leases. Sardesai sought an assurance that State government will make it mandatory for the companies, winning the auction, to retain the workforce which is currently working on those mining leases.

The Chief Minister told the House that the first round of auction process is proposed to be completed in next 3-4 months, the experienced workforce available in Goa is expected to get employment opportunities once the mining activity resumes in the state.

“The State will explore the possibility of giving preference in employment to the existing workforce through successful bidders after auction process is completed and mining activity is resumed,” Sawant said.

The Chief Minister said that order to restart mining activity in the State, Government is gearing up for auctioning of mining blocks on priority.

“In order auction the mining blocks expeditiously the State has entered into a MoU with Mineral Exploration Consultancy Limited (MECL), a Government of India enterprise, for providing Geological reports,” he said.

Sawant told the members of the House that the State has decided to engage services of SBICAP Securities Limited for transaction advisory services for preparation of bid documents and conduct of bid process. “The Directorate of Mines and Geology is expected to sign the agreement with SBICAP in couple of days,” he said.

The State has proposed to engage Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited (MSTC) auction platform for conduct of auctioning process, Sawant said adding that a High Powered Committee is being set up to monitor the auction process in a time bound manner.

He said that the Directorate of Mines & Geology has set up a Special Auction Cell to expedite auction process.

“Government has to comply with the statutory requirements and court orders in re-starting mining activity in the State. In this direction, as stated, Government has already taken concrete steps for resumption of mining activity through auction process,” he added.

Sawant said that this will give employment opportunities to the existing experienced workforce. Therefore, there should not be any fear or anxiety in this regard and government is committed in its efforts, he added. (GoaNewsHub)

Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that several countries are waiting to sign agreements with Goa to land their flights in the coastal state, which would be possible only after commission of greenfield airport at Mopa in North Goa.

Sawant told the State Legislative Assembly that Goa has agreement with only 18 countries with the existing infrastructure at Dabolim Airport. “There are many other countries which are waiting to sign agreement with Goa, who would be able to do it after Mopa Airport becomes operational,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that only 70 flights land at Dabolim Airport on daily basis as no landing is permitted from 9 am till 2 pm at this facility. Sawant said that after the commissioning of Mopa Airport, the number of flights landing in Goa will touch a figure of 150.

The issue was raised on the floor of the House during Question Hour by Congress MLA Sankalp Amonkar. Amonkar had expressed apprehensions that the commissioning of Mopa Airport will lead to closure of Dabolim Airport, which is located in South Goa.

Sawant said that the State government has given written assurance that Dabolim Airport will not be closed after Mopa Airport is commissioned. He said that Mopa Airport will be commissioned anytime after August 15, 2022.

Panaji: Amidst the rumours of a group of Congress MLAs likely to join BJP in Goa, Speaker of Legislative Assembly Ramesh Tawadkar on Sunday cancelled the notification announcing elections for the post of the Deputy Speaker.

The order withdrawing notification of election for the post of Deputy Speaker was withdrawn on Sunday morning. The election was scheduled to be held on July 12 during the upcoming monsoon Assembly session.

Legislature Secretary Namrata Ulman, in an order issued, has said that the notification issued on July 08 under the rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly stands withdrawn.

“Hence the notice of nomination for election of deputy speaker issued under 9(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly stands withdrawn also,” the order reads.

“All the Hon’ble members may note the same. No nomination shall be accepted for the aforesaid Election,” it adds.

The two week long Assembly session will begin on Monday.

The rumours were rife that a group of Congress MLAs may split to join BJP. There was no formal confirmation even as the Congress MLAs held series of meeting in Margao town on Sunday.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar said that the rumor’s about split are being spread by the ruling party. Patkar said that all the MLAs are together and they have refused any possibility of a split. (GoaNewsHub)