Pro-environment crusaders call mining barons and the Goa government as a lobby working together

PANJIM: A day after the government felicitated prominent mining firms ‘for their contribution to the State’s growth’, pro-environment crusaders said that the ruling government and the discredited mining barons were a part of a nexus working together.

Pissurlem’s farmer leader Hanumant Parab summed it succinctly when reacting to the news of the government honoring all the big mining houses for their “contribution to the state” on statehood day.

He said, “It is a sad moment and a totally wrong move by the government to felicitate the mine owners who robbed Goa. The government has not been able to prosecute them so far and neither made any recovery but is instead felicitating them. We condemn this because this clearly shows that the government is giving them a clean chit in the mega scam and giving robbers the key. What to expect from the government? They are all a lobby working together.”

Speaking to Herald, activist Ramesh Gawas shrugged his shoulders, saying, “What can we say? What more can you expect from this government? The people who looted this State and this has been accepted even by the Supreme Court, are being felicitated for their contribution to the State’s development. They have not helped the State develop but (helped) the political leaders.”

Goa Foundation Director Claude Alvares said, “This Chief Minister has a great sense of humor, which is why the Goan population is laughing. All the monies illegally gained have been parked in banks outside the country. Goa has been cheated through under-invoicing and double invoicing, and now they are awarded on Goa Statehood Day when most of them ought to be behind bars. The Goa Lokayukta found the then Chief Minister, Mines Secretary, and Director of Mines & Geology guilty of corruption in the award of 88 leases, and recommended the two government officials (Mines Secretary and Director of Mines & Geology) were unfit to hold public office.” 

Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar sounded most indignant, when he said, “Contribution towards state at what cost? The destruction of ecology, environment, and natural resources done by these mining companies is irreparable. No doubt they have built up education facilities and health facilities but they were duty-bound to do so. As a common man, I don’t see any of their contribution towards State development it’s only towards State destruction.”

Rainbow Warriors general secretary Abhijit Prabhudesai condemned the felicitation and said, “We demand that the government immediately apologize to Goans for the felicitation and expedite action against the illegal miners. Government should also immediately recover Rs 35,000 crore from them.”

Prabhudesai added, “We also believe the felicitation is a clear indication that the government will give mining leases back to the mine owners, which we the people of Goa will not allow. We reiterate that no mining should take place for another 20 years because our generation has already robbed iron ore of the next 50 generations. The mine robbers should restore Goa to its original sanctity and the government must take action against them and recover the robbed money from the accused.”

Rupesh Velip, general secretary of the GAKUVED Federation said, “By felicitating the mine owners who looted Goa and destroyed Goa’s environment, the current government once again proved that they are hand in glove with mine owners. The very same government had filed cases against these mine owners and is now making a mockery of themselves by felicitating the looters of Goa who are yet to pay Rs 35,000 crore mining loot.”

The shock at the felicitation goes beyond the mining activists. Xavier Fernandes of Goyant Kollso Naka said, “That is contradictory to what people are demanding, we don’t agree with this. They have done mining so illegally and the government was supposed to recover Rs 35,000 crore and which is also not done yet. We are totally disappointed.”

Another environmentalist, Fr Simon Fernandes, said, “I am not against honoring or felicitating industrialists who have contributed to the development of the State, but here many people have lost jobs because of corruption in mining and the poorest of the poor who have made only Rs 150 as a daily wage. They were exploited by these mining barons and that they were honored is a big shame.”

There is also a twist, as those others who are involved in mining in ancillary businesses, were also surprised. “The main problem is about people dependent on mining for survival. What has the government done for them? The government has done nothing for them to date. I am a truck owner, also graduated and I didn’t get a job anywhere. So I purchased trucks, I have two trucks, now I am in big trouble, because I am the owner of a truck but cannot earn anything on that truck, because mining is closed,” said Balaji Gawas, president of the South Goa Truck Owners Association.