PANJIM: The CM of Goa is a blatant liar and only has assureances to the people of Goa but never practice the assurances given by him. Battered by his own party colleague, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today assured the state legislative assembly that he will verify the ‘legality’ of the iron ore mined in Maharashtra and exported through Goan ports.
Kamat told the state legislative assembly that he will cross check with Maharashtra counterpart whether ore loaded on trucks from Sawantwadi, which is later brought to Goa is being mined legally.
Chief Minister’s assurance came after Aldona MLA and former law Minister Dayanand Narvekar expressed grave concern over the rampant iron ore truck transportation from across the border. He said that around 1,000 trucks are carrying ore from Sawantwadi, which enter the border through North Goa and via Mapusa offload it in the barge at Sirsaim.
Participating in the discussion on the detailed supplementary demands for grants, Narvekar said that Maharashtra has put moratorium on the iron ore extraction in its state. “The mafias are involved in transporting this iron ore using Goa roads,” he said adding that Sirsaim villagers had stopped the transportation of the iron ore, which was resumed under police protection.
He said that state is spending around Rs 10 crores in fixing the roads and ‘bandhs’ that are destroyed while transporting this ore. “On the other hand we earn just Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore as transportation cess from these trucks,” he said.
Aldona MLA threatened to stop the barge movement from Sirsaim, if this illegal transportation is not stopped. “I don’t mind risking my life but I will take canoes and stop these barges, if government fails to come out with proper solution within a fortnight,” the legislator said.
Narvekar said that entire networking of bandhs have been eroded due to movement of these barges in Mandovi River. He said that there are few bandhs, which are being repaired by water resources department while some are undertaken by agriculture department. “Almost Rs 5 crore was spent on two bandhs, which are eroded due to increasing activities of mining,” he said.
Aldona MLA also said that a large patch of mangroves have been cleared off at Sirsaim dry dock to make space for off loading of the ore.
Chief Minister responding to the worries raised by Narvekar said that transport department has already set up barricades on the border and trucks are allowed to ply after a gap of a minute between them. “The issue was also raised during winter assembly session. Immediately, the direction was given to Captain of Ports to monitor the barge movement and submit weekly report. They have to strictly ensure that barge movement is stopped during low tide,” Kamat said.
In a pack of cards there are 2 jokers but in Goa we have 40 jokers. These jokers have the answer for each and every question.The assembly sessions are nothing but a mere JOKE.
ReplyDeleteChief Minister Digambar Kamat today assured the state legislative assembly that he will verify the ‘legality’ of the iron ore mined in Maharashtra and exported through Goan ports.
ReplyDeleteMr Kamat are you on earth or have you ascended with all that wealth you have accumulated at the cost of the Goans that you can not see what is happening around get down to earth you twit and stop givig idiotic answers like Ravi Naik