Panaji, Nov 30, : The Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Luizinho Faleiro, who was just appointed, demanded the recovery of Rs 35,000 Crore illegal mining loot from the mining companies in Goa.He also demanded the scrapping of road, rail, expansion and power projects in protected forests along the Goa–Karnataka border in his inaugural speech to the Upper House. Faleiro demanded that the state immediately resume mining activity.This was in response to an order by the Supreme Court in 2018, which revealed irregularities in state’s renewal of its mining leases.
“The backbone of Goa’s economy is the mining sector.Nearly 2.5 lakh people have been affected by mining, which has been stopped by successive governments.The Justice MB Shah Commission report mentioned that Rs 35,000 crore of illegal loot has not been recovered.
Faleiro, a former Chief Minister of Goa, said that he requested the government to ensure that the money is recovered in accordance with the Supreme Court’s assurances.
The Justice Shah Commission, which was appointed by the central government to investigate illegal mining in the country, exposed a Rs 35,000 crore scam in which top miners in the state, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, and top bureaucrats were arrested.
Kamat claimed that he was not involved with any illegality in the mining sector.
Faleiro also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Goa of trying destroy the state’s environment, allowing the destruction of protected forest to make way to three linear, road and rail, and power projects.
“The Goa government has undertaken major infrastructure projects that have not only damaged but also destroyed the economy, environment, and livelihoods of the people in Goa.13 million tonnes of coal will be transported by the BJP government from Goa to Karnataka.Goa is not a destination for coal, but an international tourist destination.Faleiro stated that it is a health risk and Goans are suffering from this.”
“The three linear projects are three of the most serious sins against the people of Goa.They were primarily intended to transport coal from Goa into the hinterland.He also stated that this has not only destroyed our forests, but also wildlife sanctuaries, which were the sanctum sacredorum of Goa.” The three projects include South Western Railway’s rail track expansion from Castlerock railway station, Karnataka, to Tinaighat railway stations in Goa.Also, the National Highway – 4 four-laning is being drawn and a power line is being built.All three projects pass through protected forest areas in Karnataka and Goa, which are both part of the UNESCO-endorsed Western Ghat regions.
The state and the central government have cleared the area around Mollem (a village near the Goa-Karnataka border) and logged 50,000 trees.
Opposition politicians and activists in Goa are demanding a review of these three projects.
They claim that they were granted permission without due diligence during the pandemic.
Opponents of these projects claimed that the double tracking of railway tracks and the expansion of the National Highway 4 would increase coal transportation from South Goa to the Mormugao port Trust in South Goa to the steel mills in Karnataka’s Bellary region.
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