It was amusing to read CM Parsekar’s ‘confession’ that he was unable to cater to industry’s several needs. due to revenue loss. The CM’s statement makes one wonder whether the BJP party did not do the basic math to figure out the major hit Goa’s revenue would take when they knocked off mining. Again did the BJP party not do their homework and assess just what the government could afford to promise the various stakeholders when they went to town in their manifesto assuring the electorate reduction in VAT on petrol along with various ‘schemes’ aimed at enticing voters?
But even still, if contrary to what was promised by them in their election manifesto, the BJP government, after raising the water tariff by 100% and power by 25%, raising stamp duty. and despite taking heavy loans on the heads of each Goan, thus heavily burdening the people of Goa who voted it into power, is still hard pressed for revenue, then it certainly is mismanagement of resources from a government that has freely bestowed the largesse of ‘study tours’ upon its various ministers and MLAs again at the Goan taxpayers’ cost. The people see that the only infrastructure being pushed through are fantastic bridges to facilitate an unnecessary airport and the grandiose plans of corporate hotel lobbies. The government is acting as passive collaborator to organisations like Leading Hotels, that is allegedly violating the NGT orders and forcibly getting its tentacles into Goan land whilst introducing a culture of bouncers and paid mercenaries although the state is maintaining a police force to safeguard law and order. In such a scenario, it is a given that contrary to what the CM mouths publicly, industry can rest assured that it will get even more than it was promised at the Goan taxpayers’ cost, as long as the BJP government remains in the saddle. Diana PInto
