Had the Govt acted soon after the March 2018 decision of the Supreme Court, the situation would have been different?
Sir, to fulfil your and your party’s political ambitions, please do not play with the sentiments of the poor people.
Since 2012 the people have suffered enough. Your financial support, which was actually peanuts, hasn’t made these people rich.
No doubt, if the political class desires, the mining issue would have been sorted long back but only if they had the interest of mining dependents in mind and not the mining companies.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemakrponn
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Friday announced that the State will restart mining within three months.
The CMs assurance came at what could be called an election campaign in Dharbandora.
Sawant told the people that his government has started the process of forming mining corporations. He said this Mining Corporation will not only handle the mining business but also look after the welfare of mining dependents. He means those involved indirect employment, transportation or ancillary business.
Well, sir, your assurances are welcome, but why so late, Mr CM? Was the government waiting for elections to restart mining? What about the people who have lost their livelihood in the last 42 months?
As per your past assurances, the people of Mining areas will take this statement too with a pinch of salt.
In the last two and half years of taking over as the CM after Manohar Parrikar, Sawant may have given “n” number of assurances to mining dependents. Before Zilla Parishad elections, Municipal elections or so on, CM has only given the poor people false promises.
The Supreme Court’s rap on. Delay in filing review petition was proof enough that the Goa government had the interest of mining companies in mind and not the dependents.
The government is only using mining dependents as pawns for votes.
Even though the Assembly cleared the forming of a Mining Corporation, it would not be possible to restart mining within three months. The Corporation will have to move for Environmental clearance. None of the 88 leases whose renewal were struck down has valid ECs now.
Getting EC’s is no child’s play and would take at least a year.
So this assurance of restarting mining is another Bol Bacchan of Mr Sawant?
Had the Govt acted soon after the March 2018 decision of the Supreme Court, the situation would have been different?
Sir, to fulfil your and your party’s political ambitions, please do not play with the sentiments of the poor people.
Since 2012 the people have suffered enough. Your financial support, which was actually peanuts, hasn’t made these people rich.
No doubt, if the political class desires, the mining issue would have been sorted long back but only if they had the interest of mining dependents in mind and not the mining companies.
It is also shocking to know that the Centre has paid no heed to the Chief Minister’s pleading to amend the MMDR Act despite their very own BJP government ruling at the Centre.
The Centre took almost three years to say that the amendment isn’t possible.
So with just less than five months. Left for the Assembly elections, Sawant has no other option but to go to the people and give false promises again.
