While he has failed to resolve crucial issues like the medium of instruction (MoI), Regional Plan 2021 and the Tiracol project, he has given claimed to give relief to mining firms and dependents by granting lease renewals, convincing MoEF to lift the abeyance on environment clearances (EC) for mining, obtaining EC clearance for Mopa airport and bringing in over Rs 4,000 crore investment through the industrial sector. Herald has responded to his claims in its Editorial in the Edit page
A number of major election promises that were left untouched by then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar were “gifted” to Parsekar, who has claimed that he made a move to get it resolved or left it to the ministers to handle.
Medium of Instruction (MoI): Not
implemented
Although the Parrikar-led government managed to find an amicable solution to the issue by drafting an MoI policy, it has failed to implement. The policy still awaits its incorporation in the Goa School Education (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The amendment bill, tabled in the Assembly in August 2014, was referred to the State Legislative Assembly’s House Committee following non-clarity on the policy raised by ruling MLAs. The Parsekar government had four meetings of the Select Committee and has announced that the policy will be placed at the winter session of the Assembly.
Regional Plan 21: Not implemented
Following the governor’s assurance to scrap the existing land plan, the BJP made several U-turns, which included ‘non-scrapping’ of the plan. The new TCP Minister Francis D’Souza has announced that the RP will be finalized by December-end. Parsekar has always refused to speak on the issue, stating that his concerned minister will handle it. The issue has also taken a back seat.
Special status: Total U-turn and betrayal
Parsekar’s recent statement that special status is like “mirage” and there is no point in wasting time chasing it, has shocked and drawn criticism from people. The promise of special status to Goa had contributed to the BJP’s win in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. His predecessor had even moved a resolution in the assembly last year, supported unanimously by the House, to write to the Central government for granting special status. Parsekar has overpowered Parrikar and the State assembly.
Mining: Manufactured renewal of leases which may not pass legal test
Soon after taking over, Parsekar ordered renewal of mining leases, and accordingly, by January, 88 mining leases were renewed, in a manner which was brazen. The majority of them were renewed by the MMDR Act ordinance came into force, which would have ended the eases which were not renewed. This has been challenged in the High Court .
The abeyance on the ECs of 72 mining leases got lifted, paving the way for the resumption of mining. A few major mining firms, including Vedanta, have announced the start of mining activities. However the Professor Gadgil report commissioned by the state government investigating the manner in which the EC’s were granted has been ignored. Professor Gadgil had said that the original EC’s of 90% of the leases were granted in an illegal manner
Mopa and Tiracol projects: : Legal challenges will hit them hard
Mopa airport and Tiracol golf course project: These are the two issues that have hit the Parsekar-led government hard. Amidst severe opposition, the government managed to get an EC for the Mopa airport. The locals approached the High Court over illegal the Tiracol issue, forcing Parsekar to appoint an inquiry committee into the matter. While the RFP for Mopa has been released, the Tiracol project faces serious legal challenges
Industrial investment: Under Parsekar’s chairmanship, the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) approved projects worth Rs 4,600 crore. He even proposed an IT park at Chimbel and Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector at Tuem. The land acquisition process for both projects has begun. However, Tuem is witnessing a major protest by farmers as their lands have allegedly been grabbed illegally by the government.
