In a series of interviews leaders of major political parties speak to Herald-HCN, as they get ready for a final push for victory at the hustings on February. In the first of the series Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar speaks to SUJAY GUPTA, at his ancestral home in Mandrem. Here are the excerpts. The full interview will be aired from today onwards on HCN
Herald: In 2012 there was huge anti-incumbency wave. There was one clear dominant leader who was set to take over. You don’t have dominant leader now.
CM: I do agree, but in spite of an odd financial position we have given quality infrastructure across the State. And more than that, a robust social welfare net. For the first time an average person or poor person gets an amount each month into his account and that is a great, great thing.
We have laid the foundation stone for the Zuari bridge where the work has been taken up. The Mandovi third bridge is in progress and the people are very happy to see the type of bridge and the amount we are spending over it.
HERALD: I’ll just quickly run through your vision document of 2012. The government had promised that they would have participatory governance at the village level number one. Regional plan to be scrapped, TDS to be only in urban areas, new construction projects to be given only when infrastructure is completely in place, deforestation will be replaced by afforestation, CRZ to be completely implemented, paddy fields and Khazan lands to be protected, hill slopes which are being destroyed will not be destroyed. And then skill development which is not linked to industry will be linked, Garbage management within 18 months of taking over, casinos to be removed within three years.
Could you give a short response to each of these, these failures or U-turns.
CM: Yes. The past government had created a blunder on all these issues. At least what I can confidently say is we did not continue with the blunder. We have definitely tackled these issues, some of them have been totally solved some of them have been partially solved. But their seriousness has not increased. For instance with regard to cleanliness, that set up the plant on Saligao-Calangute plateau. When we had inaugurated, the garbage that was consumed there was 20 metric tonnes. Today after a period of 6 to 7 months the daily garbage consumed over there is 125 metric tonnes.
HERALD: Mr Chief Minister, what were the reasons why your government could not give Goa a regional plan?
CM: I believe the regional plan was kept on hold and the government cleared all those earlier ones till the time the new regional plan came into existence. In the mean time after scrutinizing, some regional plan for two talukas have been notified also.
HERALD: Don’t you feel that five years is a too long time for the government to do what they had promised to do? See I’m trying to understand your difficulty in fulfill your promises…what were the genuine difficulties?
CM: I feel keeping it on hold did not affect the development of the State. Because till the time it was on hold we went for an earlier one. No issues no proposals
HERALD: We honestly feel that a confusion was created. So to say that it did not create any problem, I don’t think it is correct. It is one black mark. Do you agree that this one area could have been handled better?
CM: Its is a scarce area (meant the impact of RP confusion was limited). I would say only very few individuals are affected, masses were not affected and were not bothered about it.
HERALD: Coming to the Investment Promotion Board, has it got the jobs in….
CM: They are coming in.
HERALD: However if you see the nature of jobs coming in almost 70% have been tourism and hotel kind of projects coming up and not necessarily manufacturing projects.
CM: There are manufacturing projects.
HERALD: But do you agree that there are more of hotel and tourism projects
CM: I believe and agree with it but equally manufacturing units are also sanctioned. Goa is an international tourist destination it is obvious that hotels and such projects are obviously welcomed. Of the 151 projects that we have sanctioned in principle, I’m proud to mention that over 100 are proposed to be put up by sons of the soil.
HERALD: Is there enough infrastructure to augment it, for instance a lot of these projects will be taping into ground water levels, water is going to be an issue, greenery and environment also. Are you confident that this will be protected? Because the local criticism has been this.
CM: I agree with your suggestion. While selecting a project we encourage only those projects that will not create environment hazard and that will not be a power guzzler as well. And the jobs that are being created will be suitable for Goan youth. And therefore all the 151 projects for which we have given approval in principal are going to create over 25,500 jobs.
HERALD: Now coming to one of our favorite topics, casinos
CM: (laughs) Yes Sir.
HERALD: CM, you will accept, that the former Chief Minister, (Mr Parrikar) had very clearly said that there is going to be not a single boat on the Mandovi within three years of this government taking place. If you compare to the videos being played of you in opposition wanting to take them out and now the opposite has happened.
CM: No sir. Let me clarify. It was in 2008 or 2009 that the number of casinos started increasing in the Mandovi. Our party as opposition had objected to it. It was because of our objection that the number of casinos could not exceed six by the then Congress government so much so the one vessel that had come there which is still standing over there could not be converted into a casino by the Congress. Then after BJP came to power in 2012, there were a number of proposals for new casinos which we did not accept. Moreover we could not remove them out, for which we initiated steps, we explored the possibility of alternative sites. We could not get the appropriate sites till date. It is not we have given up but simultaneously we have taken care to see that the Mandovi is not polluted
HERALD: What about your plan of moving them out of the Mandovi?
CM: Yeah, that still exists. I will try for that. If that can happen and they are thrown inside the sea, even additional casinos can be encouraged because during our bad days to some extent they have helped our State economy. That is one thing. Number two, during the time of serious unemployment, at least 2500-3000 boys and girls are employed there.
HERALD: The church also sent out and advisory, where they have criticized IPB, corruption. Is the relationship with the minorities as good as 2012 or is it slightly challenging?
CM: Remember their (hard) attitude towards us, BJP, in 2002? That was diluted in 2007 and further diluted in 2012 and I’m confident that in 2017 it will be further diluted.
HERALD: On the issue of allowing tainted politicians from being inducted into the party, do you feel that taking Pandurang Madkaikar into the party was correct for the party or not?
CM: Look it is a fact that politics is a game of numbers.
HERALD: Not of ethics?
CM: I did not say it is merely of numbers. It is decided on numbers and therefore for a party which is in power, what I have seen in the past is every time we have lost 2-3 seats inspite of the fact that we are in power. But every election we have gained 3-4 more and that is why our tally could reach from 0 to 4, 10 to 21.
HERALD: Was it your decision?
CM: It was a collective decision. Whatever decision that is taken by the party, maybe a view point of one person in the beginning, but we discuss such matters within the four walls, we express our views.
HERALD: What was your personal view?
CM: No. Personal views in the four walls are not opened outside. Once it is decided there, it is the decision of the entire team.
