One Year And Counting…
Much water has flowed down the Mandovi since the Congress bit the dust in the Ides of March 2012 Assembly poll that saw a wave in favour of the BJP and some would argue a wave, more pertinently, in favour of one man ~ Manohar Parrikar. A wave that got extra buoyancy with a carefully crafted social coalition that saw the BJP break with tradition and give tickets to several Catholic MLAs, creating what some would call an artificial acceptability among a section of minority that viewed it with suspicion. All that is water under the bridge or down the Zuari and Sal now.
A year, some assert, is too short a time to judge a government’s performance, and anyway that is something the electorate is mandated to do every five years. Looking, however, at some of the issues flagged as major indicators of Goa’s economy and those that were raised in the public that were promised to be addressed ~ this newspaper has found many issues that have been neglected, inadequately addressed, or have dropped off the government radar completely.
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The key issue of mining has seen multiple twists and turns and the government virtually going against the spirit of the Parrikar-authored PAC report ~ arguing in favour of the mining trade despite voluminous evidence that has come to light on the illegalities rampant in the sector. On tourism, the score-card is not too edifying either. Measures introduced would have had a fighting chance of success, had not people within the government’s team openly clashed on matters of policy and implementation. Proposing grandiose schemes of towers on the beach front and cable cars, with moves to gulp down large tracts of land has left the public with a sense of deja vu as it smacks of the same old tired strategy of big plans, massive land acquisition and outlays, with little real utility.
Pledges made to people on the matter of the Regional Plan are on hold, as are some infrastructure projects. The cash crunch from the loss of mining-related income to government drying up has much to do with this, analysts feel. The government’s move to craft its own policy on mining ~ a subject that falls within the domain of the Centre ~ has led to a clash with the Union government and the full effects of that will be felt in the months and years ahead. The government has had to live with the financial crunch ~ borrowing heavily to pay salaries and pick up the bill for many of the subsidies promised. The politics of doles has not so far proved anywhere to be a viable economic policy in the long run, though it does bring short-term political gains.
On corruption issues and issues of administration, the government seems to have angered and disappointed even its allies. In flagging the contentious Mopa airport, the government has a fight on its hands, with new semi-political outfits on its heels and growing disenchantment of a section that had veered towards giving the BJP a chance to prove itself, after ennui had set in with Congress rule here.
The present government would well take heed that the greatest disappointment has come from the public perception that, in the final analysis, governments tend to act in similar fashion, despite promises and intentions voiced while out of power. Delivering a robust economy, a clean administration, working infrastructure and sanitation in times of monumental garbage generation is a near impossibility given the multiple variables involved. But the public seek intent. Increasingly, the question asked will be one of priority. Citizens seek baseline amenities ~ from security to sanitation and everything in between. If those are not the priority or fall by the wayside or are given a go by in favour of facilitating economic interests that can well fend for themselves, fight their own battles and acquire their own land, then the troubles will begin.
