Herald: Your reaction on the latest government decision on withdrawing Goa Grant of Mining Lease Policy, 2014?
Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco: The state government has been misleading people from the start. If you compare how they used to talk about taking action on mining when they were in the opposition to what they have done in the last four years, you can see how they have not delivered on their promises. Their latest decision is another such eyewash full of holes. The government favours the mining companies.
Herald: What is your biggest objection to this?
Reginaldo: I have been calling for public auctioning of the mining leases right from the start. Now in this case it was when Sudip Tamhankar’s petition was heard in the Supreme Court, the SC favoured public auctioning. This means that the 89 leases that have been renewed are illegal. The government should cancel and auction these leases.
Herald: Why are you favouring public auctioning of leases against the government’s decision?
Reginaldo: If these mines were auctioned, it would fetch at least Rs 27,000 crores to Rs 35,000 crores to the public exchequer which is around four times the annual Goa budget. Why should Goa should bear a loss of Rs 27,000 to Rs 35,000 crore compared to the paltry sum they have made by renewing the license? The government should auction the licences to avoid select mining companies having any kind of monopoly over the leases for a long period of years and in order to share the benefits to all the people. Why should only a few families benefit from mining in Goa who earn much more compared than the government.
Herald: You say the government is favouring the mining companies?
Reginaldo: The Supreme Court has ruled that ownership of natural resources like minerals rests with the public and that the government is a mere trustee. Even Prime Minister Modi has spoken about natural resources. Yet this government does not seem to seem to share this vision in the interest of Goan people on the state. Whenever there is an issue say between say truck owners and mining company, the government will side with the mining company. Look at the budget, they have favoured mining companies making it cheaper for them while making petrol and other commodities consumed by public expensive
Herald: Do you think the government has handled the minig crisis well?
Reginaldo: The former chief minister Manohar Parrikar spoke in favour of closure of mining even as the then leader of opposition and pointed out how Parrikar had clearly stated on national television at an award function that it was he who stopped mining a month before the supreme court’s order. Now for the last four year they only blame the past government and have not taken any significant action against the mining companies for their excesses. There have been other issues regarding helping the mining affected and the people know how the BJP government has fared with respect to the entire mining imbroglio
