Parrikar's a bluff master: Greens on mining policy TNN | Aug 10, 2012, 04.08AM IST PANAJI: Environmentalists and mining activists termed the draft mining policy 'illegal' and against the people of state. They also criticized chief minister Manohar Parrikar for protecting the interests of mining lobby through the said policy.
Reacting to document, which was tabled in the assembly, environmentalist Ramesh Gauns said that this policy is not in the interest of Goa, and that there is no difference between the new mining policy and the old one. He also said that activists had high hopes from this government, but that "Chief minister Manohar Parrikar has become a bluff master because he has brought this policy to mislead the people of the state". He also saw through the timing of the tabling of the policy in the assembly; "it was done in such a way that it does not come up for discussion, and thus does not expose the intention of the government," he said. "Parrikar did not want to face criticism on his mining policy and so he introduced it at the last minute", Gauns added, maintaining that it favours mine owners, transporters and contractors. The draft policy has stated that all mines will be asked to put in place corporate social responsibility schemes, setting aside 3% of their net profit of the previous year. "This policy is carved out to protect the interest of mine-owners and there is nothing in it for the people of state, and if government was serious, then instead of 3%, it should have been 20%," Gauns added. Speaking on saving rivers, he said that there is nothing mentioned about the protection of Selaulim rand Khandepar rivers from mining contamination Gauns wasn't the only one scathing in their criticism of Parrikar. Sebastian Rodrigues, Goa convenor of Bharat mukti morcha, told TOI that "The mining policy is illegal because most of the mines are in tribal areas and the fifth schedule (of the Constitution of India) has not been declared in Goa". "The Goa government has no right to declare mining policy in tribal areas," said Rodrigues, adding that declaring mining policy before implementing the fifth schedule is absolutely haphazard, and hence, illegal. He also suggested that the government should declare the fifth schedule, which would stop mining. "Then, there would be no need of a mining policy," he added. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Parrikars-a-bluff-master-Greens-on-mining-policy/articleshow/15428372.cms
