TEAM HERALD
[email protected]
PANJIM: AAP had its public recruitment drive as well as corner meeting with likely North Goa candidate Dr Dattaram Dessai meeting the gathered backers.
AAP had promised as part of its campaign strategy that their solution to solving the mining issue would – while respecting the decision of the SC – be focused towards immediate relief to and rehab of the mining-affected aam aadmi.
It also promised to make the prosecution of those involved in illegalities, and recovery of losses to the state a major thrust of their effort and also to adopt an approach of “intergenerational equity” for future mining activities, to safeguard this important resource for the benefit of future generations.
Coming down on the government for leaving mining affected people “completely in the lurch after the Supreme Court on October 5, 2012 restrained it from permitting the restart of mining operations” the party pointed out that two years had passed since the order and no significant relief had reached the people.
AAP alleged that many persons who owned trucks and machinery had been literally left to fend for themselves and demanded that with a fully transparent, efficient and prompt disbursal of relief to all truck owners registered with GEL as one of its most important demands – wanted the debt of trucks and machinery owners to banks to be purchased from the sales proceeds of the illegally extracted ore and not from the public exchequer.
“AAP insisted that the distress and losses suffered by truck owners and machinery owners must also be compensated from the same sales proceeds,” adding that it wanted that no mineral ore be allowed for transportation anywhere in the state until and unless the losses of the affected mining persons are fully compensated and these victims adequately rehabilitated.
Stating that the mining lease holders who had indulged in all kinds of illegal and excess mining in collusion with politicians were being let off, AAP accused the government of blaming NGOs, SC, traders, Shah Commission and everyone else for the mess while not taking any of the directors of the companies involved in illegal and excess mining to the criminal courts.
“Except for the revenues now accruing to the government from the Supreme Court’s order on e-auction of illegally extracted ore, there has been no effort to recover any of the Rs.35,000 crore illegally earned by mining companies extracting ore outside lease areas,’ it argued saying that the investigations by the Lokayukta and the SIT have been allowed to languish and no arrests of the persons responsible for this mess have been made despite the fact that it is two years since the present government took over the reins of the state.
According to AAP, calculations are that over the 2004-05 – 2008-09 period, the amount of mineral depletion of the State is valued at Rs 48,199 crores. “Of this, the amount of royalties collected by Goa state was only Rs. 426 crores – i.e., the state managed to get less than 1% of the value of the ore.” And the “The rest went largely to the lease holders, and was partially used to get political influence and harass the aam aadmi,” it argued adding that “Around 25% of the ore which was ready for exports has no claimants” and pointed out that no move has been made to find out who extracted it and brought it to the jetties without paying royalty.
DRAFT AAP MANIFESTO:
Mining should be done by Goa Mineral Development Corporation so that the maximum value of the ore can be captured by the Government. All money from mining to go to a special Permanent Fund.
Sales proceeds from the sale of illegally extracted ore e-auctions should be set aside to create a ‘one-time’ Rehabilitation Fund together with any penalties recovered. This must also include the recovered Rs 35,000 crore (Shah Commission).
This Fund Should Be Used To: Provide relief to mining dependent persons in the form of debt relief and compensation for losses suffered;
Employ trucks, mining machinery etc towards rehabilitation of mines. Initial target should be to move at least 4 times that which is sold, i.e. (5×4) 20 million tons.
Rehabilitation of the mining impacted people and areas – adequate compensation of those killed, improve the health of the people, repair potholed roads, desilt fields, nallahs, rivers, etc.
… holds protest against casinos
PANJIM: Aam Admi Party held a dharna to protest against casinos, alleging that this is the only form of gambling that is legal in Goa and run on a commercial scale.
South Goa candidate Swati Kerkar and North Goa candidate Dr Dattaram Dessai were present. Volunteers in their trademark caps were flanked by policemen and media as they shouted slogans.
Arguing that Casinos are one of the main sources of political funding and “influencing who would be our rulers” AAP said that it would not accept donations from Casino companies. AAP Convenor Rajeshree Nagarsekar also promised to banish casinos from Goa and have a rehabilitation plan for local workers.
