Dec 8 – Claiming that nearly 50 % farmers have expressed willingness to accept compensation offered by the mining company, CM Pramod Sawant today asked people protesting against mining transportation at Pilgao to co-operate with the govt to restart mining activities. A group of farmers told media persons today evening that most farmers are not ready to accept the compensation and want their their farms to be restored to their previous condition.
Villagers are protesting against the transportation of ore on the Piligao-Sarmanas public road for the last 20 days.They are demanding that the mining company restore their agricultural lands to their original state and reinstate the retrenched workers. Protestors have also pointed out that increased ore transportation on the busy public route would cause significant inconvenience to locals. “We have given them solution to restart mining in a smooth manner,” said Sawant. Over 50 % of the farmers have expressed willingness to accept the compensation offered by Vedanta, the company is also ready to pay additional compensation to workers, he claimed. Sawant held a joint meeting of the farmers, workers, govt officials, officials of Vedanta company, Both the local MLAs Premendra Shet and Dr Chandrakant. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Vedanta Sesa Goa stated, “Nearly 50% of the ex-State Mining Corporation Ltd (SMCL) workforce has joined Vedanta Limited and is now part of the operating workforce. We have taken significant steps to address transportation and farmer concerns and are confident of reaching an amicable solution.”
