Team Herald
PANJIM: Former Finance Minister and senior leader of Indian National Congress (INC) P Chidambaram on Sunday assured to resume mining activities in the State within a quarter or a half month after the party is voted to power.
Speaking during the release of Congress manifesto, he said Goa’s economy will improve only after legal mining resumes.
Chidambaram said, “Source of funds was never a problem for Goa, but allocation of funds is. State resources will increase if Goa is made an Information Technology (IT) and pharmaceutical hub. We can start sustainable legal mining under the Supreme Court judgment. But we need to attend to the problems”.
Addressing the media on the key points of the manifesto unveiled by the Congress; Chidambaram said, “If wise hands and thinking minds are allocated with funds then all the highlighted issues in the manifesto can be achieved in five years”.
Stating that the disease of defection should end, he said, “This will be possible only if people decide to defeat the defectors during the elections.”
Elaborating on the manifesto, former union law minister Ramakant Khalap said, “This manifesto has been drafted considering vision for 2035 and by taking views of 500 unique suggestions from people of Goa into consideration.”
GPCC President Girish Chodankar said, “Seven pillars consisting of Suramya Goa – Serene Goa, Susanskrut Goa – Cultured Goa, Santulit Goa – Balanced Goa, Suvidhya Goa- Knowledge-centric enlightened Goa, Samrudh Goa- Affluent Goa, Sushaseet Goa- Well Governed Goa and Swanandi Goa – Healthy Goa are the different aspects considered on priority in the manifesto.
