 "Wouldn't be in power without the minorities: Laxmikant Parsekar")
Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who succeeded Manohar Parrikar when the latter moved to the Centre as defence minister in November, talks to Sudheer Pal Singh and Archis Mohan about his focus on industrial development and why right-wing groups like the Sri Ram Sene are a nuisance. Edited excerpts:
What has been on your agenda since taking over as the chief minister in November?
I am busy with many things, including the process of getting clearances for the mines. I have done whatever was required from my side. Now it is left to the Ministry of Environment and Forests. They need to do it. The matter has been pending there. I will fix a meeting with the minister (Prakash Javadekar). Things need to move.
Business needs to grow in Goa and job avenues are needed. A couple of months back we finalised our investment policy. We have also constituted an Investment Promotion Board. Now, we are in the process of inviting investors who can come up with proposals for setting up industries, but with a focus on ecological concerns and generation of jobs. These proposals will come to the Investment Promotion Board. I am the Chairman of the Board. We give in-principle approval to these projects and then relevant departments will study these proposals in depth. Things are moving.
How has the ban on mining affected Goa?
The functioning mines were stopped two-and-a-half years back. A large part of the population is affected by this. People have been out of business and jobs for two-and-a-half years. Their savings are exhausted. The worst part is they have had to sell whatever that was saleable. The truckers want to sell their trucks but there are no takers and these vehicles are sitting idle. There are other states also that have been affected by the mining ban. But compared with their size of the population and geographical area, the impact on these states has been negligible. But Goa being a small state, the mining ban has had serious impact. More than the impact on the revenue of the state government, I would like to see the population happy as early as possible. Therefore, as per the guidelines of the apex court, the government has complied with everything. Now, we expect the suspension of clearances - done in September 2012 by one common order - to be withdrawn. The government has moved ahead in line with the order of the Supreme Court. I am hopeful that the suspension would be withdrawn. The matter has been lingering for two-and-a-half years and a resolution must not be delayed. We are the state with maximum number of social welfare schemes. And none of these schemes have been delayed. We have ensured that these schemes are not affected due to the lack of funds, but development projects have slowed down a bit.
The miners in Goa complain of high export duty of up to 30 per cent on iron ore. Even if the issue of mining ban is resolved, would this high duty not impact the viability of businesses?
I am trying to resolve the issue of high export duty, too. I have pursued this issue also. I have met (Finance Minister Arun) Jaitley ji and subsequently, I have given one reminder. Let the mining begin first. I will pursue that matter also.
What are some of the investment proposals received?
I have been the chief minister for the last three months and have two more years at my disposal. We are focusing on improving the social and economic life of the people of Goa. We are also now encouraging investments in the state. A case in point is the push for the pharmaceutical industry. In the last month, we have cleared around five pharmaceutical industries and around six hotel projects, all of which are rated five-star and above. We are trying to develop a greenfield international airport. We are currently in the tendering process of that project. We will be finalising the successful bidder by June. We want to start the actual work on the project by November this year. That will give employment to people. Also, along with the airport project, many other associated industries are going to come. I have met the civil aviation minister to discuss the terms of the project. My government is pushing to promote tourism and information technology (IT) industries. We have identified two places and we are in the process of handing over around 600,000 sq metres of land for the development of an electronic world-class city and another 450,000 sq metres for the development of an IT park. I hold regular meetings with all the relevant officers in various departments to discuss the progress of these two IT projects. I would be able to create at least 5,000 jobs through these two initiatives in the initial stage.
You have spent several years under the shadow of senior leaders…
I have got an opportunity because Manohar Parrikar ji was called to Delhi. I would love to see the party contesting elections under my leadership and bring the party to power once again. That would be my certificate (of appreciation) by the public. I am waiting and planning for that certificate.
Your government has moved to amend the Goa Panchayati Raj Act that will allow Panchayat and zilla Panchayat elections to be contested on party lines. This seems to be a first in the country. What is the philosophy behind this?
I am of the opinion that zilla Panchayat and Panchayat elections should also be held on party lines only. This is because the Panchayat people (sarpanch and others), who are independent, create issues even in the implementation of small projects. If it is my party worker who is creating issues, I can pull his ears. I can hold my party worker responsible for his deeds. The system of annual rotation of panchayat heads hinders development.
Your government renewed the ban on the Sri Ram Sene.
That is because it (the Sri Ram Sene) created problems and nuisance. We have 40 per cent minority in Goa. With this 40 per cent minority, we (the Bharatiya Janata Party or the BJP) never dreamt of coming to power. But people have reposed faith in us. Without the help and support of the minority community (Christians), we would not have reached here. So, we should not fall prey to such people (like the Sri Ram Sene). We have not achieved power overnight. The confidence of the electorate has been built gradually. When I contested on a BJP ticket in Goa for the first time in 1989, my score was 365 votes. I lost my deposit. In the next election, I could save my deposit. In the subsequent elections, I was elected. My margin increased from 850 votes to 1,800 votes, and further to 3,600 votes in the third, fourth and fifth elections. Such margins are quite big, considering that Goa has barely a million voters. When people have developed faith in us gradually, we cannot afford to destroy it.
What has been on your agenda since taking over as the chief minister in November?
I am busy with many things, including the process of getting clearances for the mines. I have done whatever was required from my side. Now it is left to the Ministry of Environment and Forests. They need to do it. The matter has been pending there. I will fix a meeting with the minister (Prakash Javadekar). Things need to move.
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What are the challenges you face?
Business needs to grow in Goa and job avenues are needed. A couple of months back we finalised our investment policy. We have also constituted an Investment Promotion Board. Now, we are in the process of inviting investors who can come up with proposals for setting up industries, but with a focus on ecological concerns and generation of jobs. These proposals will come to the Investment Promotion Board. I am the Chairman of the Board. We give in-principle approval to these projects and then relevant departments will study these proposals in depth. Things are moving.
How has the ban on mining affected Goa?
The functioning mines were stopped two-and-a-half years back. A large part of the population is affected by this. People have been out of business and jobs for two-and-a-half years. Their savings are exhausted. The worst part is they have had to sell whatever that was saleable. The truckers want to sell their trucks but there are no takers and these vehicles are sitting idle. There are other states also that have been affected by the mining ban. But compared with their size of the population and geographical area, the impact on these states has been negligible. But Goa being a small state, the mining ban has had serious impact. More than the impact on the revenue of the state government, I would like to see the population happy as early as possible. Therefore, as per the guidelines of the apex court, the government has complied with everything. Now, we expect the suspension of clearances - done in September 2012 by one common order - to be withdrawn. The government has moved ahead in line with the order of the Supreme Court. I am hopeful that the suspension would be withdrawn. The matter has been lingering for two-and-a-half years and a resolution must not be delayed. We are the state with maximum number of social welfare schemes. And none of these schemes have been delayed. We have ensured that these schemes are not affected due to the lack of funds, but development projects have slowed down a bit.
The miners in Goa complain of high export duty of up to 30 per cent on iron ore. Even if the issue of mining ban is resolved, would this high duty not impact the viability of businesses?
I am trying to resolve the issue of high export duty, too. I have pursued this issue also. I have met (Finance Minister Arun) Jaitley ji and subsequently, I have given one reminder. Let the mining begin first. I will pursue that matter also.
What are some of the investment proposals received?
I have been the chief minister for the last three months and have two more years at my disposal. We are focusing on improving the social and economic life of the people of Goa. We are also now encouraging investments in the state. A case in point is the push for the pharmaceutical industry. In the last month, we have cleared around five pharmaceutical industries and around six hotel projects, all of which are rated five-star and above. We are trying to develop a greenfield international airport. We are currently in the tendering process of that project. We will be finalising the successful bidder by June. We want to start the actual work on the project by November this year. That will give employment to people. Also, along with the airport project, many other associated industries are going to come. I have met the civil aviation minister to discuss the terms of the project. My government is pushing to promote tourism and information technology (IT) industries. We have identified two places and we are in the process of handing over around 600,000 sq metres of land for the development of an electronic world-class city and another 450,000 sq metres for the development of an IT park. I hold regular meetings with all the relevant officers in various departments to discuss the progress of these two IT projects. I would be able to create at least 5,000 jobs through these two initiatives in the initial stage.
You have spent several years under the shadow of senior leaders…
I have got an opportunity because Manohar Parrikar ji was called to Delhi. I would love to see the party contesting elections under my leadership and bring the party to power once again. That would be my certificate (of appreciation) by the public. I am waiting and planning for that certificate.
Your government has moved to amend the Goa Panchayati Raj Act that will allow Panchayat and zilla Panchayat elections to be contested on party lines. This seems to be a first in the country. What is the philosophy behind this?
I am of the opinion that zilla Panchayat and Panchayat elections should also be held on party lines only. This is because the Panchayat people (sarpanch and others), who are independent, create issues even in the implementation of small projects. If it is my party worker who is creating issues, I can pull his ears. I can hold my party worker responsible for his deeds. The system of annual rotation of panchayat heads hinders development.
Your government renewed the ban on the Sri Ram Sene.
That is because it (the Sri Ram Sene) created problems and nuisance. We have 40 per cent minority in Goa. With this 40 per cent minority, we (the Bharatiya Janata Party or the BJP) never dreamt of coming to power. But people have reposed faith in us. Without the help and support of the minority community (Christians), we would not have reached here. So, we should not fall prey to such people (like the Sri Ram Sene). We have not achieved power overnight. The confidence of the electorate has been built gradually. When I contested on a BJP ticket in Goa for the first time in 1989, my score was 365 votes. I lost my deposit. In the next election, I could save my deposit. In the subsequent elections, I was elected. My margin increased from 850 votes to 1,800 votes, and further to 3,600 votes in the third, fourth and fifth elections. Such margins are quite big, considering that Goa has barely a million voters. When people have developed faith in us gradually, we cannot afford to destroy it.