the goan I network
PANAJI
In the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, the all-party delegation is reaching New Delhi today (Monday) under the leadership of PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar to find a way out after the Supreme Court has ordered banning of all mining activities in the State from March 16. On the backdrop of the significant victory of BJP in the Eastern states and the moves to establish BJP governments there, the response given to the delegation in Delhi will assume significance. Though the meeting with Nitin Gadkari, the BJP in-charge in Goa and Central minister for Road Transports, has been scheduled, there are no appointments scheduled with Central Mine minister Narendrasingh Tomar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi although efforts are still underway through South Goa MP Adv Narendra Sawaikar.
All eyes of lakhs of mining dependents are now focused on the Central government with regards to the requests of Sudin Dhavalikar and Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai, both of whom have played important roles in establishing the BJP government in Goa.
The delegation led by Sudin comprises Union Ayush minister Shripad Naik, Health minister Vishwajit Rane, leader of the opposition Chandrakant alias Babu Kavalekar, South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP regional chief Vinay Tendulkar as well as MLAs from mining affected areas, including Nilesh Cabral, Dipak Pawaskar, Prasad Gaonkar among others. Town and Country Planning minister Vijai Sardesai was to take a late-night flight to Delhi. Also included in the delegation are the Director of Mines Prasanna Acharya and Advocate General of Goa Dattaprasad Lawande.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who is recuperating following a recent health issue has contacted leaders in Delhi and briefed them about the delegation arriving in the capital on the crucial and sensitive issue. In the absence of the chief minister, the onus will be on Sudin Dhavalikar to shoulder the responsibility of leading the delegation and it is to be seen how he handles the situation.
Will the public
auction stop?
The delegation is expected to get clarity over several issues related to mining. Since there is a policy in place that decides that distribution of the natural resources in the region should be only through auction under the
I WILL TRY TO CONVINCE
CENTRAL LEADERS: VIJAI
MARGAO: Goa Forward Chief and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai told the media on Sunday that he would try to convince the central leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi that a Dhanbad mafia like situation should enter in the mining section in Goa in the event the centre presses for auctioning of the mines in the state.
The TCP Minister, who was participating in the Shigmo festivities at the Opinion Poll square, was
scheduled to leave for the National capital by the late evening flight to Delhi. “I do not know whether the MPs have managed any appointment with Prime
Reginaldo walks out after he
gets a mouthful at CLP meet
PANAJI: Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Laurenco was slammed by senior Congress leaders and its office bearers at the Congress Legislative Party meeting held on Sunday for his remark against the all-party meeting convened over the mining issue.
Congress leader and former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane told Laurenco that mining issue had become serious and sensitive and that, no one should make baseless remarks on it. “Making useless statements after studying this issue in the depth could create problems for Congress. At least in this situation no one should talk without substance,” Rane told Laurenco. Opposition leader Babu Kavlekar also was on the side of Rane. However, Reginaldo retorted: “there will be no outcome of this meeting and government is just using opposition party for their benefit.”
As he didn’t get any response from his colleagues, he preferred to walk out from the meeting.
