Panaji: Most insensitive and inhuman BJP Government under Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is harassing the common people by disconnecting their Water and Electricity Connections for non-payment of Nominal Dues but is deliberately ignoring to recover 10187.62 crores from Crony Companies, charged Congress President Amit Patkar.
Addressing a Press Conference at Congress House along with General Secretary Jitendra Gaonkar, North Goa District President Virendra Shirodkar and South Goa District President Savio D’Silva, Congress President Amit Patkar alleged that BJP Government has taken huge kickbacks from all the Defaulting Companies and in turn have turned a blind eye on initiating recovery proceedings.
We have written a Letter to the Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel demanding that Government must initiate steps to start the recoveries of these huge Outstanding Dues immediately. We have categorically demanded that the Government must immediately withdraw the consent given by Goa State Pollution Control Board and permissions given by various Government Authorities to all the Companies who have not cleared their Pending Dues, stated Amit Patkar.
The Financial Burden on the State has now touched Rs. 36,000 crores resulting in Liability of Rs. 2.40 crores on every Goan. However, the bad Fiscal Management by the Government which has resulted in the State going into Bankruptcy and the Common People facing Financial Emergency. Misplaced priorities of the Government has resulted in complete neglect of recovery of thousands of crores from various Companies, said Amit Patkar.
The data provided to the Goa Legislative Assembly shows that a Total Amount of Rs. 10187.62 crores has remained unrecovered from last many years. This includes Mining Dues of 257 crores, Power Bill Arrears from Commercial, Industrial and Government of 2214.73 crores, Dues from Casinos of 349.89 crores, Goa Rural Improvement and Welfare Cess Dues upto 2018 of 366 crores, Goa Rural Improvement and Welfare Cess Dues from 2019 to 2024 of 500 crores approx., Green Cess of 6500 crores approx., stated Amit Patkar.
It appears that the Government is deliberately ignoring these huge Outstandings from the big Companies such as Adani, Vedanta, JSW and Casino Operators as they belong to the Crony Club of Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi. Incidentally, Common People face the ire of the Government by way of disconnections for non-payment of small amounts towards Electricity and Water Bills.
We have demanded that the Government must withdraw all permissions given to the Defaulters of Mining Dues such as Transport Permits, Export Permits, Consent to Operate Mines etc., Immediately disconnect the Electricity Connections of all the Defaulters from Industrial, Commercial and Government Consumers, Immediately withdraw Consent to Operate of all the Hotels housing Casinos which have defaulted on payment of Dues. Stringent measures needs to be taken by Disconnecting Water and Electricity of the all such Hotels, Immediately suspend the permissions given by Captain of Ports and Mines Department for Transportation of Coal by Road and Waterways, Immediately withdraw Consent to Operate given to the Companies for handling Coal at Mormugao Port Authority, said Amit Patkar.
If the Government fails to take pro-active steps now, we will be compelled to launch a State-wide agitation to force the Government to recover the rightful Dues of the State. We want to warn the Government that the responsibility of any Law and Order situation arising out of the agitation will be solely on the Government, Amit Patkar said.
