Team Herald
PANJIM: TMC State in-charge for Goa MP Mahua Moitra charged that Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has acquired a mine in Dodamarg, Sindhudurg. When he was an Ayurvedic Doctor under the Goa Govt how did he acquire the money to purchase a mine, she questioned. “I would ask Prime Minister Modi to please do an immediate CBI and ED inquiry into his sitting Chief Minister and ask him where he has got the money to buy this mine from, in District Sindhudurg in Maharashtra,” she asked.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had promised to start mining in three months. But even after three years no mining has started, Moitra underlined. Giving more details about the mine, Moitra said that on November 7 2019, the office of the Regional deputy director of mining Maharashtra has granted an approval of modified mining plan in Village Talecol, Dodamarg taluka, in Sindhudurg district to Pramod Sawant.
“Where do you get money as ayurvedic doctor? Can you buy a mine by selling portions and pudyas and vials?” Moitra questioned, while demanding the inquiry.
Moitra also pointed out that Sawant was not meant to be CM of Goa. BJP candidate was Shripad Naik was. But she said lore or rumour has it, that Shripad had some sensitive material about Satish Dhond, (organisation secretary) who worked against Naik and saw that he did not become chief minister.
Moitra also alleged that Sawant had not started mining via auctions, but illegal mining was going on by two corporations --one from Goa and another UK based company and various fly by night operators.
On the Mhadei issue, Moitra said Goa had fought hard and won the battle for Mhadei in the Mhadei Tribunal, however Goa CM Pramod Sawant made a deal with Karnataka to divert the water even after they lost the case. Goa officials were told to give NOC to Karnataka, she claimed.
“After Sawant govt came to power they gave NOC to Karnataka that you can take this water. After there was hue and cry in assembly, CM said the lawyers gave NOC without informing govt, is it possible?” Moitra questioned. Citing the press conference where Advocate General and senior counsel Arvind Datar who was ASG to Govt of India, said Goa officials asked their lawyers to give NOC to Karnataka. Since then most of the water has been diverted to Karnataka. In spite of winning, this case has burnt Goa, Moitra opined.
She recalled how Parliamentary Affairs Minister who hails from Karnataka came to Delhi and said that we have done a deal with Pramod Sawant and there is no problem in this. We are diverting water, he said. “How are they diverting the Mhadei water, when they lost in the Mhadei Tribunal. How are they diverting when SLP is in SC? Moitra asked.
“Till today Goa does not know how much water Karnataka has diverted. Please ask the CM to please ask the govt. Is it 7.5tmc or is it more. They do not know. What is happening is happening under the eyes of the govt under a supposed deal,” Moitra told media persons in Panjim on Friday.
Asked about ensuring Goa Assembly Elections, the Goa desk in-charge of TMC said “now we are not looking for an alliance. TMC Chairperson Mamata Banerjee should speak on this. We are looking to fight all 40 seats on our own. But we will have a CM candidate before we go to the polls,” she said.