Ruling BJP MlAs in Goa have demanded that Union Ministers for Mines and Shipping Narendra Tomar and Nitin Gadkari arrive in the coastal State immediately and assure the more than 1 lakh people dependant on the mining industry, that their future would be secure, even as a Supreme Court of India imposed ban on all mining activity is due to formally come into effect on March 15.
With Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar away in the United States of America for treatment of his pancreas-related illness, BJP MlAs like Michael lobo and Nilesh Cabral have also expressed frustration that both the State as well as Central Governments, which are headed by the BJP were not doing enough to find a way out of the crisis.
"I am demanding that Nitin Gadkari ji, who came to Goa after the elections and is a bridge between the Centre and Goa, should come to the State now and solve the problem, or at least assure the more than 1 lakh people directly dependant on mining, that a solution will be found to work around the crisis caused by the Supreme Court judgement," lobo told The Pioneer.
The Supreme Court order in January had cancelled all 88 mining leases, which were renewed by the BJP-led coalition government in Goa in favour of the same mining companies implicated in the Rs 35,000 crore illegal mining scam.
The order also mandates, that mining leases should be issued anew, after getting all the necessary environment clearances, a process which could take nearly one and a half to two years according to experts.
Ruling MlAs have opposed mining, claiming that "outsiders" would exploit the State's natural resources and have been demanding that the Central Government should make an exception vis a vis Goa, by allowing renewal of existing mining leases in favour of the same mining companies instead of issuing fresh leases using the auction route.
BJP MlA Nilesh Cabral has been one of the most vocal voices, which is critical of the Governments' both State and central, claiming not enough urgency has been shown to address the mining issue.
Cabral was also extremely critical of the administration mechanism put in place by Parrikar, before he left for the US earlier this week, charging there was virtually no Government in place in Goa currently.
"Today we have practically no Government. With due respect to Chief Minister it is very clear there is no governance happening," Cabral claimed.
Before he left for further treatment abroad last week, Parrikar had appointed a three-Minister committee to run administration-related affairs and has assured that he would be conducting Cabinet meetings via video conference. Two key bureaucrats, which includes Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary have been appointed to the liaise between the three Ministers and Parrikar.