MPT has looted Goa on mining: Parrikar
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 03 April 2013 14:44 IST
“Mormugao Port Trust has looted Goa through mining industry for all these years”.
This startling allegation was made by chief minister Manohar Parrikar today in the Assembly.
The issue was related to the financial assistance to the port workers dependent on mining industry.
“The MPT has made enough money on mining to support their port workers”, Parrikar told St Cruz MLA Babush Monseratte, when he asked why only truck owners have been compensated.
Parrikar also said the mine owners should also take responsibility of their workers at least for one year as they have earned enough to sustain them.
“I have immediately attended to the voluminous lot of truck operators who were severely affected due to mining ban”, he claimed.
According to Parrikar, though trade has equally been affected, it was difficult to count the damage they have suffered.
The chief minister also clarified that the financial assistance from the government side would remain only for one year.
“I have put them on saline, but I cannot treat them life time”, clarified Parrikar.
He hopes that the Supreme Court grants interim relief by May, once the hearing before a new bench starts in April.
He also felt that the central government may not create obstacles in getting relief from the Supreme Court as Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has assured all kind of help to resume mining in Goa as fast as possible.
In addition, the mines ministry has taken a similar line like the Goa government while the Ministry of Environment and Forest also thinks the same way, though it had to take little different line in order to justify their acts.
“Why should I disclose my strategy to tackle the issue if centre tries to obstruct resumption of mining”, asked Parrikar, while claiming that he has kept his strategy ready.
When Babush asked why the Goa government stopped mining even before the Supreme Court did, Parrikar shot back: “I didn’t stop mining, I only suspended it.”
According to him, the suspension was necessary in view of removing certain anomalies pointed out by Shah Commission in Goa’s mining industry.
When Babush asked why then the state government has opposed both Shah Commission report as well as the SEC report before the court, Parrikar had all praises for Shah Commission.
“Shah Commission is in a right direction. The only things we don’t agree is that we were not given opportunity to explain our position, the loss is not Rs 35,000 crore but Shah Commission itself has suggested to review it and the locations of illegal mines have not been properly identified", said Parrikar.
“Have you verified it now”, asked Babush.
“We have started it”, said Parrikar.
He also justified his act of renewing 14 mining leases and recovering up to Rs 280 crore.
“I have recovered the money which was pending for the last 25 years”, he told Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monseratte.
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