PANAJI
If the BJP government can repeal the three controversial farm laws, then why can't it start mining in the state and provide land rights to the landowners, questioned AAP leader Puti Gaonkar on Wednesday, stated a press release.
While addressing the media on Wednesday he said, "The BJP had promised that it will notify the wildlife area after taking note of the private lands in the vicinity. They had set up Karapurkar and Sawant committees for this, but the government hasn't worked on it to date. Then-Congress leader and current Valpoi MLA challenged the governor’s decision in the High Court. Even a decision on that matter hasn't come yet. Majorly people from Sanguem, Quepem, Bicholim, Sattari and some parts of Pernem haven’t got their land rights yet. The lands which were notified on our forefather’s name during the 1850s, because of a 1970 survey, had termed us as encroachers’’.
The BJP, which has been putting hoardings talking about the developmental works that have been done in the past 10 years, should declare how many industries have been shut during their period, challenged Gaonkar, the release further stated.
"The mining sector has been shut for the last several years. There are 25 thousand families that are dependent on this sector. But, the government is only working for corporations. Earlier, PM Modi promised to file an early hearing petition on the mining matter but this has not been done. If they are taking so many years to file the petition then how are they going to start mining," asked Gaonkar.
"Now, ahead of the assembly elections, the government is engaging corruption in the name of providing employment. They have been offering bogus offer letters and taking Rs five lakh. The CM’s office has turned into an agent office now. In the entire country, only the Arvind Kejriwal government is providing the highest minimum wage that is Rs 15,000. But, here in Goa, companies have been paying Rs 10,000, which is exhausted just for transportation and food. There is a need for local upliftment. Unfortunately, during the Sawant government, the Sanjeevani sugar factory got shut. The government is now bringing a university over that land. How many Goans will get employment there? If they would have set up a container hub then people would have been self-employed," he added.
