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Sign the Petition requesting The Honble Minister of State for Environment
and Forests (I/C) to maintain the moratorium on issuing further
environmental clearances for mining activities in Goa
http://goanvoice.org.uk/miningpetition.php
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The politicians who rule India appear to encourage blackmail and corruption
which oils the huge machinery which keeps them in power. Running the government
has become their birthright, the political party their fiefdom. Out of power,
they are like fish out of water. What is happening right before our eyes in
tiny Goa? There is no vision for long term benefit of the aam admi or saving
Goa. The politicians of the group of 7 are trying to strong-arm. the
government, each individual with his own agenda. To add to it all, the
Administration right hand does not know what the left is doing, and important
files not moving. The common man is left helpless and humiliated with the
conniving attitudes of our representatives and irresponsible bureaucrats. The
flaunting of wealth by Mayawati at the silver Jubilee mega celebration of the
BSP by a garland composed of Rs1000/- notes stitched together estimated at more
than 5 crores was a raging topic. Another smaller
garland of notes was thereafter, in defiance, gifted to her. I wonder why the
RBI is silent on misuse of legal tender in those garlands and the income tax
authorities, on how all this money is accounted for. In any case she is only
doing crudely and openly what the others are doing sophisticatedly (if one can
call it that) and clandestinely. The CBI Enforcement Agencies and the Police
are hamstrung. Governments in power are able to do whatever they want with
relative impunity!
This is also evident from the performance in our State Legislative Assembly
which was in session in March. They have postponed the two most important Bills
on Police Reforms and The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill 2009 to the next
session in July 2010! The Assembly was informed that since 2000 all the
narcotics seized have not been properly listed nor any destroyed! In fact, were
being used by the cops as a side business. The Business Advisory Committee
referring to the Ad Hoc House Committee will now invite suggestions from the
public but not allow public active participation. This allows them to simply
reject/ignore the suggestions with no explanations. The scathing CAG
observations are treated the same way. Whilst permitted environmentally
unsustainable but lucrative mining has been increasingly devastating Goa and
also widespread illegal mining, 100 new mining leases are reportedly
sanctioned! The new Census figures will probably be used to
convert villages into towns. The RP 2021 is nowhere near finalization, the
government is still issuing permissions and appears to be working hard to
regularize, stonewall, and cover up all illegalities. HSRP contract has been
acquired fraudulently and government is refusing to move fast in the
inter-state excise scam brought to light by the leader of the opposition in the
last Assembly session. There appears to be a scam in every government
contemplated or operated project.
The unaccountable bureaucrats with 6th pay commission salaries today, are
absent in the House when in session, give incorrect and evasive answers to
questions, prompting our Speaker to order attendance under penalty and caution
officials, like he did in the last session also, to provide correct answers to
questions raised. Surprisingly, no punishment or corrective implementable
measures are contemplated! There is no incentive for them to work. Loss making
Kadamba Transport Corporation, one of the corrupt , unionised and great loss
making organizations is rewarded by pay commission salaries without any link to
productivity or efficiency! Six million tons of food grains rot in the open in
Punjab and Rajasthan, whilst millions go hungry and at the same time, we read
of starvation related deaths! The shortfall has now to be imported and prices
skyrocket beyond the reach of even the middle class. Considering the enormity
of this crime, no one is
punished or even properly chastised! Despite the Constitution and Democracy,
the government using its powers, brazenly continues to bulldoze its way by
pulling the wool over people and Court’s eyes, whilst serving the interests of
entrenched politician and vested interests with impunity. To add to it all,
there is global warming and all over Goa, no effective management of garbage,
sewage and water supply. Casinos are proliferating, Drug pedlars active and
police blackmailing/doing drugs as a side business, justice a casualty. This
state of affairs is frightening!
The High Court had converted my article “Who Will Bell the Cat” (Herald 13Sep)
into Suo Moto PIL 1 of 2009. I personally appeared before Justices S.B.Deshmuk
and N.A.Britto on 1/10/09. I had thereafter submitted a Dossier of 7 pages with
9 enclosures including Exhibit of procured CFL, damning RTI back up evidence,
my investigative corroboration, newspaper cuttings and detailed answers to the
government Affidavit (which avoided directly answering most of my considered
allegations) to Amicus Curiae advocate Shivan Desai with covering letter Quote
“I have spent a lot of time, effort and money to prepare this dossier/file. Not
addressing these matters, no dent will be made in corruption, CFL type scams
will continue, sub-standard stores will get procured, mediocrity reign supreme,
and public continue to suffer and be made to increasingly pay for these
defaults. Since the Court is supervising, I trust it will not land up like the
dossier India submitted
to Pakistan for bringing the Mumbai terrorists to justice” Unquote.
However, by order dated 17/3/ 210 signed by Justices S.J.Vajifdar and
U.D.Salvi, I find that the Court restricted the whole article to a few points
namely i) Procurement of CFL for street lights ii) Functioning of the Consumer
Protection Council (CPC) iii) Blackouts in industrial areas iv) Low voltage in
residential areas v) Telephone and TV cables strung on Electric poles. .I will
only very briefly allude to the most unsatisfactory government response and
Court dismissal order which inter alia stated:
“The learned Advocate General states the CPC is now functioning satisfactorily.
The Court does not have details of Industry electrical supply problems which as
pointed out maybe due to load shedding or industry’s own negligence and same
applies to low voltage in residential areas due public own fault like using one
phase and appliances needing 3 phase or maybe due to defective gadgets. Without
more information, the Court cannot pass orders in this regard. Telephone cables
are not strung on electric poles and suitable action will be taken promptly if
pointed out. Government is formulating a policy on Television cables. Regarding
CFL procurement for streetlights, the record does not indicate the supply to
have been either defective or having caused a loss to the State sufficient to
pass any adverse orders in this petition. No further action is called for. The
Petition is accordingly disposed of”.
Although the case is closed, as embedded in our national emblem, Satye Mayve
Jayte (Truth Shall Prevail). The Matter is recorded, there is definately some
positive fallout because of the Courts attention..There must be follow- up
through public persistent vigilance and pressure.
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