SC urged not to apply Karnataka formula to Goa in mining case

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 29 August 2013 19:07 IST

CM Parrikar & Opp leader Rane at mining rally

A rally of mining dependent people from Goa today urged the Supreme Court not to compare Karnataka with Goa, while deciding the case of illegal mining.

Both, chief minister Manohar Parrikar of the BJP and opposition leader Pratapsing Rane of the Congress, expressed similar opinion on the issue while addressing the rally organised by the Goa Mining People’s Front.

Almost 12 MLAs belonging to all the parties attended the rally today, convened here at Azad Maidan, following taluka-wise meetings in the mining affected areas.

The crowd gathered at the rally was nearly 5000.

The MLAs who attended the meeting included Parrikar, Nilesh Cabral, Ganesh Gaonkar, Kiran Kandolkar, Vishnu Wagh, Subhash Faldesai and Pramod Sawant of the ruling BJP, Rane, Babu Kavlekar and Aleixo Reginald Lourenco of the Congress, Lavoo Mamledar of the MGP and independnet MLA Naresh Sawal.

Besides, Goa Congress chief Subhash Shirodkar and NCP Goa chief Nilkanth Halarnkar also addressed the rally.

“Karnataka formula would not work for Goa,” said Parrikar in his address while expressing hope that the Supreme Court would decide the case, which is pending from October last year, since when all mining operations have been suspended in Goa.

Agreeing with him, Rane also urged not to combine Karnataka with Goa, stating that the southern state is not dependent on mining unlike Goa, where mining is the backbone of the economy of the coastal state, besides tourism.

While centre lost Rs 10,000 crore due to mining ban, Parrikar said Goa has lost almost Rs 1500 crore which was collected through taxes and fees.

According to Parrikar, operations at 30 mines could start within a month once Supreme Court decides the case, as Goa government has already decided to lift suspension of mining operations after studying their cases.

He also urged the central government to clear the proposal at a cabinet meeting of one kilometer buffer zone from the sanctuaries to restrict mining so that it could help the Supreme Court to resume mining in Goa.

While the chief minister urged the local Congess leaders to impress upon the Prime Minister to expedite the matter, Rane also supported the demand of one kilometer buffer zone.

Nilkanth Halarnkar, the local president of the Nationalist Congress Party, informed the rally that the central cabinet would be discussing the issue this week.

BJP MLA Vishnu Wagh appealed to all his 39 colleagues in the state Assembly to resign enmass in order to pressurise the Supreme Court by creating constitutional crisis in the state.

Trade union leader, amidst applause, supported the proposal while assuring that they would work to get the same MLAs re-elected if they resign enmass.

Christoper Fonseca, the GMPF leader, urged the Supreme Court to set up a fast track court to dispoe of the Goa case of illegal mining.

Almost 11 resolutions were passed at the rally, which also urged the Ministry of Environment and Forests to accept Goa government’s proposal of one-km buffer zone.

Referring to their resolution, Parrikar assured the rally that the mining policy would be framed soon after mining is resumed in Goa.

GMPF convenor Suhas Naik, also a lawyer, warned the Supreme Court not to play with the sentiments of the people, stating that people are supreme in Indian democracy and not the Supreme Court. 


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