Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
The decision not only proved how much respect Sawant has at the Centre, but it was also a reality check for Goans as to how important Goa is for the Delhi leadership as it has just two parliamentary constituencies.
Ever since the approval was granted, CM Sawant has been in the eye of the storm and Opposition demanding his resignation – especially from his bête noire Vijai Sardesai, who leaves no chance to criticise him.
Sawant has said that he would requisition the Prime Minister for his intervention.
Nonetheless, apart from the Mhadei issue, it was a great year for Sawant, who has consolidated his position as the Chief Minister. However, the New year poses new challenges to the CM, who, apart from managing the Mhadei issue, will also have to campaign for the Modi government in the election year.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
The 2022 was a mixed year for Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, who started the year with a bang winning the Assembly elections by a near majority (20 out of 40 seats), much against the run of play.
However, the last few days of 2022 have been worrisome for Goa CM, and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa as the Centre arbitrarily decided to grant Karnataka’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mhadei diversion project.
Engineering Defections…
Not just the victory in elections, but Sawant was also successful in engineering a split again in Congress in a bid to decimate the party.
Out of 11, eight Congress MLAs split and joined the BJP in September, shocking the Congress, which has been left with just three MLAs.
What this meant was that the BJP’s strength in the House on its own increased to 28, plus they also had the support of three independents and MGP (2).
Today Sawant has 33 MLAs, including himself, while the Opposition is just seven – three Congress, two AAP, one RGP and one Goa Forward.
Mining Auctions…
The year was also successful for Sawant as finally, the long-waited Mining issues were solved with the auctioning of four blocks, which is expected to bring a windfall for the cash-starved government in the State.
With just four blocks auctioned, which have reserves worth ₹43k crore, Goa now definitely feels the bad days are over.
Four companies – Vedanta limited Block-1 (Bicholim), revenue sharing of – 63.55%; Salgaocar Shipping Pvt Ltd
Block-2 (Mayem) – 99.25%, Rajaram Bandekar Block-3 (Sirigao) – 111.28% and Sociedade DeFomento Block-4 (Kalay) 86.40% have been declared successful bidders in phase 1.
With the State finances expected to stabilise with the windfall of mining auction, Goa may not need to borrow from open markets.
In fact, Goa can repay the debt and become one of the highest-earning small states in India.
Mopa Airport…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the international airport at Mopa in north Goa. He named the airport after the late Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Mr Parrikar died in March 2019.
The airport at Mopa in north Goa, being built at the cost of ₹ 2,870 crores, will be the second facility in the State in addition to the existing airport at Dabolim.
The airport will have the capacity to handle 44 lakh passengers a year in the first phase, and it will go up to one crore passengers a year after the entire project is complete.
Dabolim airport has the capacity to handle 85 lakh passengers a year, but it does not have a facility for cargo transportation, which the new airport will have.
The new airport in Mopa will promote the local economy and boost tourism, as north Goa is already a popular tourist destination.
First Phase of New Zuari bridge…
The first phase of the Zuari bridge could easily be called the Sawant government’s biggest achievement after mining as it would bring in some respite for commuters across the Zuari river, who had to suffer for hours of traffic jams.
On December 29, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways inaugurated the first phase.
This has reduced travel time between Margao-Panaji and Vasco Panaji to half.
The second phase of the bridge is expected to be ready in 2023.
The Mhadei saga…
While the year has been good so far for Sawant, the last few days of the year have become worrisome for Sawant, and his own party betrayed him and the Goans too by taking a biased stand on Mhadei, which was an issue close to the heart of every Goan.
The decision not only proved how much respect Sawant has at the Centre, but it was also a reality check for Goans as to how important Goa is for the Delhi leadership as it has just two parliamentary constituencies.
Ever since the approval was granted, CM Sawant has been in the eye of the storm and Opposition demanding his resignation – especially from his bête noire Vijai Sardesai, who leaves no chance to criticise him.
Sawant has said that he would requisition the Prime Minister for his intervention.
Nonetheless, apart from the Mhadei issue, it was a great year for Sawant, who has consolidated his position as the Chief Minister. However, the New year poses new challenges to the CM, who, apart from managing the Mhadei issue, will also have to campaign for the Modi government in the election year.
