The cancelling of 214 of the 218 coal block allocation by the apex court has sent shock waves across the country. After satisfying itself that the allocations were done in an illegal and arbitrary manner, the highest court of the land was left with no option than to nullify the clandestine dealings. This should send clear signals to all stakeholders that things cannot just be taken for granted and the rule of law should take precedence in all deliberations.
Many a times, the feeling among people is that once certain transactions are done, no matter how dubious the dealings are, over a period of time everything would be forgotten, forgiven and regularised. Let us recollect the illegal constructions of Campa Cola society, a 100-flat multi-storeyed real estate business of Mumbai, which was taken for granted that it would be regularised, till the court ordered its demolition in June.
What concerns the country is since coal is the major source of energy in India, the quashing of almost the entire coal blocks would severely dent the energy requirements, at a time when the nation is already besieged with power crisis, with the supply simply not able to meet the ever surging demand.
Our own Goa has already expressed serious concern over power shortage in the state. The ASSOCHAM has voiced its concern over the matter.
What we deeply regret is, the nation is held hostage by the greed of a handful of voracious bigwigs, for whom nothing counts other than minting money, irrespective its consequences.
Michael Vaz, Merces
