In the State’s mining hotbed lies the tale of how this economic activity has always been riding on political interest. It is therefore no surprise when BJP MLAs – Nilesh Cabral, Subhash Phaldesai, Ganesh Gaonkar and Pramod Sawant – voice their anger against the petitioner in the Supreme Court, Goa Foundation, and specifically its director Dr Claude Alvares. Their angst is voiced not just to please their vote bank but to protect their own interests besieged due to the stoppage of mining activity. The stand taken by these MLAs is not just political, but has their own economic interests at heart.
Herald through a series of chats with locals and truck owners from the mining belt came across the truth behind the MLAs voice – revealing their personal interest more than the interest of people affected with mining ban. There were many stories told but with a rider that we will not quote them. People are worried of a backlash. But the stories are true and need to be told.
The love affair of Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar with the mining industry dates back to over a decade. “It all started when the Gaonkar family lost their land to one of the sites of Sesa Goa at Vagon,” recalls an elderly man in Dabhal village few kilometres away from Sesa Goa’s Codli mine sites.
The Gaonkar family had never had a brush with the mining sector till they were offered to run an ore washing and screening plant in the mining lease. The affair began and soon grew. The Gaonkar brothers led by Ganesh had a flourishing life. “They lost around 80,000 square metres of their land. Sesa Goa offered them the business opportunity and they took it. After that there was no looking back,” says 60-year old local Ramanatkar, whose two trucks used to run in the mining business in 2008-09.
Ganesh went on to become sarpanch of Dabhal Kirlapal panchayat and also an union leader in Sesa Goa.
Sai Transport, with nearly 1000 trucks and tippers, run by the Gaonkar family deviated into other businesses related to mining, including truck transport contract. Another mining firm which started its lease near Dabhal opened a sea of opportunities for him.
Locals say that Hanumant Gaonkar, brother of Ganesh, currently runs the mining business for the family along with other brothers. The supremacy of the Gaonkar brothers in the mining still continues even as the industry is all set to begin its second innings after the ban.
Speaking to Herald, the MLA admitted having a transport business, which is operated under legal parameters. “What is there in running a transport business? Yes we have trucks plying in mining areas transporting ore but that too has generated employment and income for locals who drive the trucks,” he said proudly.
The All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA), which is currently locked in a battle with Sesa Goa over ore transportation, slams Gaonkar for ruining their business by literally taking it over. “Now with limited mining business, only few truckers are getting an opportunity to run the business and that too in the areas like Sanvordem, it is entirely captured by the local MLA,” president Nilkant Gawas said.
Way back when Ganesh was in the business he came across a thin fair ambitious youth who was a doctor by profession who wanted to join hands with him in the business as a trader. “Pramod Sawant was buying ore from Ganesh during the boom time,” recalls one of the villagers. The Pale legislator is also a practicing doctor and has business interest in the mining.
“Though Pramod Sawant is into this business, he is very much in support of local truck operators,” Gawas said without trying to disclose more details of Sawant business.
Inquiries in the Pale mining belt revealed that Sawant continues making profits from mining but now in a different fashion. “None of his businesses are in his name. They are in some dummy names but he remains a major beneficiary especially from a company like Sesa Goa,” a local truck operator Uttam (refusing to mention his surname), said.
The rise of Sawant as a political leader in this belt is also attributed to the mining activity. His contacts in this belt helped him along with the party label. Sawant is a known Manohar Parrikar fan. But now has to answer a volley of questions from the mining dependents. His anger against Claude Alvares is also due to his business interests.
When asked, Sawant refuted the allegation of being involved in mining related business. “I am not involved in mining business. Yes, I have two trucks registered in my name but post resumption of the activity, only one of my trucks is operational. I have no interest in mining business but I am fighting for the rights of truck operators and the people dependent on the business,” he said.
The MLA challenged his opposition to prove his involvement in the iron ore transportation business.
Back in South Goa, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral is the biggest beneficiary of resumption of mining. His association with the firm Royalline Resources Limited, the largest buyers of e-auctioned ore, is also the leading transporter of e-auctioned cargo.
Cabral whose political career stems from his closeness to former MLA Sham Satardekar, another mining beneficiary, is now having a monopoly in the business in south.
People close to Cabral narrate how this legislator has made peace with Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldesai in the business so that the political interests remain undivided.
“Subhash’s brother is in the truck transport business. They have made peace and it is decided that Nilesh will share the booty with Phaldesai’s brother,” said a source. Phaldesai has been vocal against Goa Foundation and the reason can be spelt in his family’s interest in the mining business.
Locals claim that mining companies always try to keep the local MLAs happy as their support is required for the smooth running of the business. You can’t intimidate the MLAs as the key for smooth transport is in their hand. You might mine ore well but it has to be transported to the jetty from the roads which are fiefdom of people in power. The mining companies also change their loyalties depending on who is in power. Out of power is out of mind for the companies.
