PANAJI
While none of the Congress or BJP MPs from Goa have raised the mining issue in Parliament to date, AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Monday spoke on the issue in the Rajya Sabha.
While addressing the speaker, he highlighted that in 2012, the Justice M B Shah Commission published a report on illegal mining in Goa. He recalled the report stated that all mining activities were closed owing to a Rs 35,000 crore illegal mining scam.
A decision was taken to close the mining process in 88 mines that were given on lease, he added.
He reiterated that 30 per cent of Goa’s economy is dependent on mining. “Close to three lakh households used to earn their livelihood through those 88 mines. It’s been nine years since the decision, yet there is no talk of resuming mining,” he said.
He added, “Among those rendered jobless were mining workers, dumper operators and hawkers. Most of them are still jobless. A few of them have committed suicide as well.”
He criticised the Goa BJP government saying that despite the Supreme Court directing the auctioning of mines, it has ignored the issue.
“This was done to help close allies and relatives of BJP while ignoring the plight of three lakh Goan families. Why is the Centre not intervening despite both, Centre and State, governments being of BJP?” he asked the minister, requesting him to follow the auction guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court to start the mining process again.
The AAP MP also questioned the inaction of the government on the Rs 35,000 crore scam and asked if any action has been taken.
He concluded, “The only action that has been taken is against innocent Goan families that were helping the Goan economy grow by working hard. These have been pushed into abject poverty.”
“Goa has two MPs, one from Congress and one from BJP. One is a minister as well, none of them ever bothered to raise the issue of mining. AAP rose to the occasion and took up the issue in Parliament.”
“We have been saying that both BJP and Congress have no intentions to resolve the issues faced by Goans. Three lakh families are jobless for the last nine years and no one bats an eye. AAP will keep working on such issues which impact the economy of Goans,” said Rahul Mhambre, AAP Goa Convener.
