TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Lakhs of mining dependent people, who could barely eke out a living over the past 18 months due to sudden closure of the million-dollar mining industry, might have to continue their struggle for livelihood even after May 16, when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar would set in motion the government machinery for resumption of iron ore mining operations in Goa.
Days after the Supreme Court lifted its one and half year long ban and asked the BJP-led government to form new mining guidelines, investigate and punish the guilty, Parrikar, a senior member of ‘Team Modi’ is busy campaigning across India for the saffron party for the Lok Sabha polls, thus upsetting the mining stakeholders and dependents, who are eagerly waiting for the State government’s go ahead for restarting mining.
“Parrikar, rather than putting all his energies to make sure his party wins the LS polls, need to act as the chief minister of Goa and set the ball rolling in restarting mining operations, amidst the uncertainty that continues despite the Apex Court judgment,” mine owner Harish Melvani told Herald.
Melvani said that though Supreme Court has lifted its ban, the future of the mining industry is now in the hands of the State government, which appears least bothered at least at this moment.
During BJP national executive meeting in Goa in June 2013, Parrikar was selected by ‘Team Modi’ to reach out to the intellectual class across the country and ensure it doesn’t move away from BJP. Parrikar has been travelling across several states of India. In fact on the day of the crucial Supreme Court order on April 21, the chief minister was campaigning in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. He however returned to Goa on April 22, afternoon.
On April 26, just a day after announcing that the mining suspension order imposed by State would be lifted after a comprehensive policy is put in place, the chief minister left for Amethi and Lucknow for campaigning yet again. The sensitive mining issue that was a major campaign agenda of BJP in Goa for the parliamentary polls seems to have got less importance after the elections, considering that the ball is now in their court.
The chief minister had on April 26 told media persons that he would be holding a meeting with the mining stakeholders, which according to these stakeholders was not held and the announcement was just an eye wash.
Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) convener Adv Suhas Naik confirmed that none of the stakeholders were intimated about any such meeting. Even the officials attached to the Mines Ministry said that there was no such meeting.
Naik however said that it’s high time that the chief Minister takes the responsibility of addressing the mining issue and act in earnest. “People along the mining belt are looking up to the government with hope. Parrikar should not let them down,” he said. “The chief minister should know what his priorities are and act accordingly,” he commented adding ‘people cannot wait till after May 16, for files to move’.
Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) demands that the process for resumption of mining needs to commence immediately, as any further delay would worsen the situation in the international market, “where we will have to fight to once again to establish our base. The chief minister needs to be more responsible towards the State now,” an official opined.
Since the very beginning Parrikar is completely focusing on the BJP’s attempts to form their government at the Centre, and banking on it to re-start the mining industry in the State. If Modi fails to form the government, then Parrikar’s confrontation with the Centre over the crisis would further strain the situation forcing people to continue their struggle.
