Don't tax, recover mining loot: GCCI
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 12 March 2013 22:01 IST
Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has supported the demand of recovering illegal loot from the mine owners.
“If this is done, Goa does not need to impose any taxes on the people of Goa”, agreed GCCI president Mangirish Pai Raikar.
A pre-budget memorandum submitted by the GCCI to the government has suggested not to go for any tax reduction as the state is presently suffering due to mine-ban crisis.
When asked whether the BJP government should go at least to recover Rs 3200 crore of illegal loot mentioned in the Public Accounts Committee report of then opposition leader Manohar Parrikar, Raikar said: “I have not read the PAC report and I don’t know the exact amount”.
He however agreed that the illegal loot should definitely be recovered from those involved in illegal mining.
The GCCI president feels that the recovered money should be spent on health and education in the mining affected area as well as restoring ecology.
“After Justice Shah Commission report, the state government has appointed Justice Khandeparkar committee to verify the illegalities. Let this committee come out with facts and figures”, said Raikar.
He however said the GCCI is firmly against illegal mining as well as restoration of legal mining.
According to Raikar, with legal mining, less than 40 per cent of mining activity than the peak mining activity would start again and not more than that.
“This will mean a large number of people in mining and mining related activities losing their jobs and a substantial loss of revenue to the state”, stated the pre-budget memorandum.
The GCCI feels that the government should henceforth look at mining as a limited source (and not the backbone of Goan economy).
As an alternative, the GCCI has thus suggested to develop Goa as a trade and logistics hub by utilising the trucks and barges for the environment-friendly activity and providing employment to the mining-dependent people.
The premiere body of commerce and industry has suggested to develop either Dharbandora or Colvale for the hub.
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