Team Herald
PANJIM: Ahead of BJP national leader Nitin Gadkari’s visit to Goa to take stock of the situation in the wake of the mining ban, the Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC) is of the view that in the current scenario, the State government has no option other than auction iron ore leases, but unanimously demanded that the interest of locals involved in the business be protected.
Gadkari, who is likely to visit Goa next week, will hold talks with BJP and its allies – MGP, GFP and Independents – to know their views on the auction of leases and to collectively work out a solution for continuation of mining operations in the State. Speaking to media persons, CAC member PWD Minister Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar said there is no other way out than auction of leases as these are directions of the Supreme Court. “Nobody can stop the auction as there is the Supreme Court order and also law that speaks about it. Since it is in the Act, we cannot ignore it,” he said. “However, one will have to also look into its implications. We need to protect the people, who are dependent on this business for decades now,” he added.
Another CAC member, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, too expressed a similar feeling but opined that auction cannot be at the cost of people’s livelihood. “What is the option before us? We have to go as per the Supreme Court, which is supreme in the country. Here, in the current situation, there is nothing what the individual wants. We have to go as per law and Supreme Court,” he added.
At the same time, the Minister said that the
government will have to ensure that locals are not out of the business completely. “Auction is good but there are various factors to it. If you start auctioning everything, then we are in difficult situation,” he said.
“In a hypothetical situation, let us take shacks. Tomorrow if someone tells us to auction the shacks and each is taken for about Rs 2-3 crore, than Goans are completely out of business. That cannot be allowed. That is not government policy at all,” Sardesai said. “Is it state policy to auction everything and if yes at what cost?” he questioned.
CAC member and Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza too believes there is no other option before the government but stated that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should take the final call on it later.
“The current discussion before the CAC or government is the problems that the people will face between closure of mines and starting them after auction. We have to work out a solution for that. Auction comes in the later stage,” he commented.
