PANJIM: Goencho Avaaz, an NGO on Tuesday condemned the unwarranted provocative attack by mining activist Puti Gaonkar’s on Claude Alvares, director of Goa Foundation.
The release issued by Captain Viriato Fernandes and Swapnesh Sherlekar says that the statement of Puti Goankar should be condemned by every right thinking Goan, including those who support the re-start of mining.
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“The personal attack, even while the matter is before the Supreme Court, will not help the cause of the mining dependents in any manner. It is pertinent to recall that it was not Claude Alvares who stopped the mining industry, but former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar who had publicly claimed credit for stopping the mining operations and used the same to ride on public sentiments and win the Assembly elections in 2012,” they said.
Goencho Avaaz further said that the Supreme Court would have never stopped the mining if it had been done following the laws of the land. Instead, large scale loot of Goan resources took place (Rs 35,000 crore), and the government as well as the public were cheated of major revenues, and as a result today the State is bankrupt and has no money.
“In such situations, it is offensive to promote the interests of the mining lobby which Puti Gaonkar is doing, knowingly or unknowingly. He should avoid playing into the hands of the two or three mining companies who stand to benefit from such illegalities,” the NGO says.
They said that the scrutiny of the letter written by Goa Foundation to the Prime Minister mentions about facts and figures.
The letter, Goencho Avaaz says, states that the Goa government is not collecting Rs 3,400 crore due from mining companies for various illegalities committed by mining companies, based on demand notices sent out by the government itself. It also says that despite the orders of the Supreme Court to grant fresh leases, the Goa government is insisting that the leases be given back to mining cronies. No one can dispute these facts. They are public facts, and are in public interest.
“We repeat that Gaonkar’s provocation against Alvares is doing a disservice to the mining unemployed. The Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) understand the real issues and not blindly follow and issue statements parroting the mining lobby. Gaonkar should accept the fact the law clearly says that mining leases can only be given through auctions. So long as auctions do not take place, mining cannot restart. And hence such attacks based on ill informed facts can only further delay the re-start of mining,” it states.
Goencho Avaaz further requested Gaonkar to understand that Goa Foundation is only highlighting the illegal mining issue. The GA firmly stands that the operations should be restarted as per the laws laid down.
“We take this attack on Goa Foundation as an attack on all the people of Goa who have been demanding early resolution of the problem as per law, and therefore any attack on the Goa Foundation is an attack on the people and GA as well.”
“The tremendous work and contribution of Goa Foundation across the length and breathe of the State is there for all to see. It is understood that a large number of supporters of Goa Foundation are from mining areas. They have suffered from mining and from reckless trucking along the village roads. Hence, we request Gaonkar to desist from such personal attacks and not fall prey into the hands of the lobby involved in illegal activities,” they said.
