No one will starve in mining belt: CM

PTI, PANAJI | 19 December 2012 18:52 IST

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday assured 'food security' to all those affected by the halting of mining activity, which is likely to impact more than three lakh people dependent on it.

“The government will ensure that no one starves due to halting of mining activity. We will make sure that there is enough (food) for everyone's livelihood,” Parrikar said addressing the 52nd Goa Liberation Day at Campal ground.

The state was liberated from Portuguese colonial rule in 1961 on this day.

The current crisis looming large on the mining industry is a matter of serious concern for the government, Parrikar said.

“The government is well aware of the difficulties faced by the people from the mining belt. We are providing financial help to those people impacted by the closure,” he said.

The chief minister's statement came a day after thousands of people dependent on mining industry held a rally in Panaji city demanding immediate resumption of the activity.

Iron ore extraction has been put on hold in wake of the order of Supreme Court, which is currently investigating the illegal mining through its Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

Parrikar said the government is working to create employment opportunities in the mining sector.

The government is in favour of immediate resumption of legal mining, which is done taking into consideration the environmental aspect, he said.

On corruption in the state, he said the graft level has come down by almost 50 per cent from the time he took over the reigns.

“We are working towards zero tolerance towards corruption. The aim is to reduce it by almost 80-90 per cent,” Parrikar said, appealing people to “cooperate in government's endeavour to have a corruption-free state”.


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Government should start development works such as desilting of canals for irrigation, new roads etc in the mining belt areas so that the workers who are jobless for the time being can be given gainful employment.

New non-polluting industries can be set up in these areas and priority in jobs can be given to the people who were dependent on mining.

Goa has relied too much on mining. The mining balloon had to burst one day or the other. It caught the people and the govt. unprepared for the consequences.

Regarding corruption, it is a known fact that corruption percolates from top to bottom. If a Minister is corrupt, the departments under that minister will be corrupt, the head of the deptt. will be corrupt and this will go down till the peon in such deptt who will ask for money to get any job done.

We tend to look at the poor peon but the fact is that the peon is compelled to collect 'haftas' by the higher ups which reach till the minister.

Corruption cannot continue till people offer bribes. Hence, the people who offer bribes are responsible for the corruption.

The vigilance section in each deptt. should be activated to keep close watch on corruption.

People may report directly to the CM if they notice any corruption in govt. department so that he can at least minimise corruption if it cannot be reduced to zero level.

- Francisco G. Lourenco, London | 22 nd December 2012 18:28

 

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