If even half the energy shown by ruling MLAs to keep mining in leases whose operations have ceased, was spent in ensuring the clean mining operations were insisted upon after the 2014 ‘Shah Commission’ judgment, there would have been greater hope sustainable mining to have started in Goa today.
Goas political class, especially its mining MLAs gave been absolutely myopic in thinking that as long as they managed to ensure some mining activity, (even by skirting Apex court directives, to cease mining completely), they would keep receiving political support. That is how low the low the thinking had fallen.
Goa’s mining MLAs and their new supremo (partly self-proclaimed) Sudin Dhavalikar, continue to see mirages in the dessert where none exist. But when they try and pitch these same mirages to the people in the mining areas that they would get the government at the centre to allow mining companies (whose lease renewals have been quashed) to keep mining, it becomes very unfair and totally anti people. The jaunt to Delhi to meet ministers but have no meeting with the Mines minister, was pointless.
The dash to Raj Bhavan in Wednesday morning was another act of showmanship bereft of any serious intent or substance. Did the MLAs expect the Governor to send a letter to the centre, asking to keep in abeyance the Supreme Court order till Goa’s mining major had their fill of mining (illegally now).
And now we hear that Mr Francis D’Souza, senor minister of the Cabinet Advisory Committee, has asked the Chief Secretary to withdraw the letter of the Director Mines to cease all mining extraction by March 13 and allow mining right upto March 16, quite obviously and directly helping the existing mining barons.
Shockingly, none of the main political parties or their senior leadership in Goa have realised the absolute foolhardiness if trying to keep alive the mining sector, which actually needs temporary rest and closure and not continue to illegal mining.
Right now, the roadmap for the future of Goa’s mining sector can only start from the past. Apart from erring ease holders, the Special Investigation team should be asked to hunt down each and every fly by night mining trader and establish their connections with local politicians, either overtly covertly. Along with the fear of the law, those who have committed dacoity on our land, should be named, shamed and severely punished.
MLAs should immediately stop doing their Delhi rounds, as we have said for selfies and photoshops,and word towards sensitizing their constituents to prepare for a long lay-off. Goa is under watch of the Supreme Court and its MLAs must behave according the spirit of the judgment.
All that has emerged from the Delhi trip and today’s Raj Bhavan episode is that the absolute disconnect between MLAs and other constituents. These so called meaningful trips are actually meaningless when all the time and energy should be spent on maximizing what can be done now, till March 16. Instead these journeys were used to further political ends of some of their ‘leaders’.
