MARGAO: Quepem’s relief has become Salcete’s rage. And this coastal taluka is not too pleased with the government’s cash injection to settle mining loans to the dependent in other mining talukas like Bicholim, Sanguem, Darbandora etc. Their big ask “Why them”, when there are so many independent entrepreneurs who are at various stages of difficulties with their businesses, some even as an indirect fallout of mining.
The decision has evoked sharp reactions and outrage as well — right from elected representatives to activists and the common man, terming it as ill-conceived, politically motivated and a bad precedent. In fact, the government’s decision has come at a time when several public utility projects are stuck up for want of funds. And, it has thrown up a pertinent question whether the government would bail out other private enterprises going in the red.
While Salcete’s lone Minister in the Parrikar government, Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado wriggled out by offering ‘no comment’, opposition MLA Vijai Sardesai was highly critical of the scheme. Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco and social activists were categorical in saying tax payers’ money should not be used to finance the scheme.
Sardesai said, “It is clear that the government is pandering to vested interests at the cost of Goa and Goans. There are two segments connected to mining — mining dependents and the mining affected. By going ahead with this ill-conceived, illogical package, the government is totally ignoring the latter (mining affected), whilst not satisfying the dependants in totality”.
He said while irreversible damage to environment due to the ecologically degrading activity for decades has been ignored, the government wants to only show to its captive vote bank that they are keen to restart mining like before without any checks and balances, thus showing that it hadn’t learnt any lessons from the mining closure.
His Curtorim counterpart Reginaldo Lourenco sought to clarify his stand vis-a-vis the scheme. “I am very clear when I say I support a financial package for the truck owners. The government says the scheme for truck owners to repay loans will be met from the auctioning of ore lying at the jetties. In this context, I am supportive of a package to the truck owners, but I will definitely object if the government uses the tax payers’ money to bail out the truck owners”, he added.
Social activist Sidharth Karapurkar, said “I had a small scale industry at Verna manufacturing cutting tools, which is now shut for the last eight months due to international recession and economic conditions. Will the government bail me out with a similar scheme for the mining truck and barge owners? Why should I be not eligible for a similar package? Let the government recover the mining money squandered and work out a package for the truck and barge owners instead of using the tax payers’ money”, Karapurkar said.
Activist Zarinha da Cunha said she finds no logic in the government decision. “Why should the government squander scare resources on private business enterprises when the conglomerates have raked in huge profits? The government should stop putting the economy in jeopardy”, she demanded.
Similar sentiments were echoed by activist Judith Almeida, terming the government decision as wholly unjustified. “When funds are not forthcoming to tone up the basic infrastructure, it’s surprising that the government has come out with a scheme on the repayment of loans for the truck and barge owners. Tax payers’ money should go towards strengthening the infrastructure than to bail out players in the mining industry”, Judith asserted.
