The Goan: You have pushed through a host of bills the most important being themining and the gambling bill. On the mining bill first.
Manohar Parrikar: I have achieved twothings. Firstly, I have made it restrictive. Only those in serious businesswill survive. Secondly, all mines will have to sign leases for which a stiffamount has to be paid. That will ensure that only serious players stay. Thiswill also ensure revenue to the state.
Secondly on dumps, I am very clearthat dumps have to be mined and moved. Plots on which dumps lie need to becleared for agriculture and other uses. At the same time, mining has tocontinue since the Goan economy is heavily dependent on mining and its alliedactivities.
TG: But there is a perception that you have done a U-Turn that there is noillegal mining in Goa?
MP: I have clarified this. If I’masked if there is illegal mining going on now in Goa, my answer is still no,but if the question is are there illegalities and irregularities in the miningprocess, the answer is yes, because then the whole process of transportationand logistics comes in. The new mining policy is comprehensive and takes care.
TG: The amendment to the gambling bill has sparked off angry reactions fromthe casino industry and also discriminates between Goans and Indians. At thesame time you have allowed casinos to function. Some people again accuse you ofdouble standards.
MP: Who gave licenses to theoffshore casino operators? I've never given a single licence to anyone.Let the opposition support setting up a house committee to inquire into thecasino issue. I can prove how kickbacks were taken. Where are the doublestandards? I’m clear that casinos will be moved out of the Mandovi. Has the Congressever said that? I do not need money from casinos to run my government. As forthe amendments to the gambling act, they are solid in law and prepared afterlooking at every legal angle.
TG: So if you don’t needrevenue, then your toying with the idea of giving a license to Maharaja Casinos dampens your position.
MP: I have and will not do anything that isn’t within the law. Ihave not taken any decision but will closely study it. If one promoter decides to transfer his license, then the governmentcannot be blamed. In the amendment to the gambling bill, it will be doneofficially by paying a fee. That’s a matter of principle. The Maharaja Casino management has approachedme and I have heard their point of view and that is fair. But that doesn’t meana decision has been taken.
TG: Youwere given 100 days to settle down. What have you grappled with so far?
MP: The finances of Goa were in a pitiablesituation when I took over. On day one there were Rs 396 crores in the coffers,out of which Rs 200 crores was through a grant we received from the center forour golden jubilee celebrations. We had a liability of 1308 crores plus ourcommitments to the Laadli Lakshmi and the Dayanand Social Security schemes. Infour months I have managed to recover and generate Rs 1800 crores from VAT,mining royalty, central government funds etc. . So revenue generation has beena constant challenge.
TG: Itwouldn’t be so much of a challenge if you get the money stolen from Goa’streasury due to corruption scams. Your FIR against the GIDC for fraudulent plotallotment was never really acted upon. Secondly, the PWD issued tenders worth more than its funds, throughmultiple and ghost tenders. When will you get this money back?
MP: I’m getting the GIDC issues, including SEZallotment investigated by the ACB (Anti Corruption Bureau). A fresh FIR hasbeen lodged by the GIDC. As far as PWD is concerned, I have received numerouscomplaints that there is an average of a 25% kickback on tenders. I am on theprocess of scrutinising all this. It’s is an important part of my agenda butthe first priority was to stabilise revenues.
With regard to the SEZ allotments, (post The Goan’sin-depth story on violations in SEZ plot allotments by the ex GIDC chairmanBabu Kavlekar), officials of the GIDC and Kavlekar will all be questioned andtheir statements taken.
TG: Apartfrom the family raaj dominating the Congressand its inability to control illegal mining, the Congress lost because of aclearly builder dominated Regional Plan 2021. Your manifesto said it would bescrapped, then the governor’s opening address mentioned it would be de-notifiedand now you are leaning towards reworking it. Can you please explain?
MP: It’s very important to understand that theprevious committee had overreached itself. The Regional Plan is supposed to bea broad planning template where zones are marked and MDR’s (main districtroads) and National Highways outlined. The panchayats then have a role informulating the specific village plans where village and other smaller roadsare marked. Time has been given till August 16 for suggestions and feedback butbased on parameters I mentioned. At the same time, there are positives in theplan that cannot be taken out and will be considered to formulate the bestpossible plan.
