A man of action and principles

New Delhi: Manohar Parrikar, the leader of the Opposition in the Goa Assembly, has pointed a finger directly at Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in relation to the illegal iron ore mining scam in the state.

As chief of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) his findings were shocking. He alleged that iron ore worth Rs40 billion (Dh2.9 billion) was illegally mined over five years and accused Kamat, who has held the mines portfolio for the last 12 years, of misappropriation.

Known to be a man of action and principles, Parrikar is widely respected even among his rivals. He is credited with bringing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power for the first time in the state in 2000 when he was appointed chief minister.

Having initiated various social upliftment schemes, including providing financial assistance to senior citizens and introducing youngsters to computers, he ushered in a tech-friendly student community in the state during his tenure. But his government was reduced to a minority in 2005 and Parrikar subsequently lost his position.

He recently claimed that out of the state's 336 valid mining leases, 90 mines were in operation, from which 54 million tonnes of iron ore was tapped during the last financial year.

In an exclusive interview to Gulf News at his modest office in Panaji, Goa, Parrikar bares all. 

GULF NEWS: Do you think the Directorate of Mines and Geology's decision to appoint chartered accountancy firms for auditing and verifying the production data of iron ore mines will show any result?

MANOHAR PARRIKAR: The chartered accountants can only tell figures pertaining to legalities and illegalities. But, ultimately, the job comes to the mines department to ascertain whether the legal procedures were followed. 

The whole exercise should be completed by March 31, 2012 and a report has to be submitted to the directorate for placing before the government. You mean the situation after all this will again be back to square one?

The chartered accountancy firms can reduce the load of the mines department, but it cannot by itself solve the problem. The mines department will, thereafter, have to be strict in implementation. 

Until now the chief minister has declined to take any moral responsibility for illegal mining. He says that each agency functions under its own laws and while the Indian Bureau of Mines prepares mining plans, the directorate general of mines is responsible for safety. Who then is accountable?

The Indian Bureau of Mines and the directorate general of mines may be responsible for certain aspects only, but the chief minister knows that illegal mining is taking place. And if no punitive action is taken, that means he is responsible. In fact, I will go a step further and say that illegality, in part, has been happening in connivance with the chief minister. 

What was the reason for your removal from the PAC?

The simple reason was that I was opening the cupboards of the government that had too many skeletons.

They did not want me to do further investigations on various other issues, which would have hurt them. So, they thought it better to get rid of me. 

Had you anticipated that you would be removed as PAC chief?

Actually, it is not removal. My tenure was coming to an end. But what we anticipated was that the ruling Congress Party would show some decency, which is normally done.

We also thought they would wait for some more days. But they were obviously panicking and took a hurried decision. 

Why hasn't the BJP sided with you and taken up the issue strongly?

My party has taken a clear decision of writing to the Speaker about not participating in any committees that have been formed now. That's because it is a partisan and non-consultatively appointed committee. 

When you headed the PAC, the ruling party members were not participating. Isn't it similar to what was happening the other way round?

Yes, most of them did not participate. After all you cannot expect them to dig into the wrong doings of their own party. 

What did you mean when you mentioned that a mine, which got environmental clearance in 2008, showed excess mining from old dumps and questioned how there could be dumps when the mine got the clearance only in 2008?

Dump is an iron ore of lower grade.

Before 2005, iron ore of less than 55 per cent did not have a demand in the export market. So, at that time, this material was dumped as a reject.

But starting from 2005, that reject began getting commercial importance.

So, if the mining got clearance in 2008, anything that was commercially exploitable cannot be called a dump. 

Do you think the recently passed Goa Lokayukta Bill 2011 will give the ombudsman the power to probe the chief minister?

Yes, it will have the power, but you need to appoint the ombudsman first, get the law notified and that itself will probably take six to eight months.

So, this ombudsman might only be able to look into the matter only after the assembly elections in the state, which will take place next year.

Career in politics

• Manohar Parrikar was born on December 13, 1955 in Mapusa, Goa.
• Studied B. Tech in Metallurgic Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai — 1978.
•  Ventured into business of producing hydraulic equipment at the family-owned factories.
•  Entered politics in 1988 and became member of the Legislative Assembly, Goa on a BJP ticket — 1994.
•  Member, Estimates Committee, Budget Committee and Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education — 1995-96.
• Member, House Committee to study Model Rent Control Legislation — 1996-97.
• Member, Public Accounts Committee and House Committee to investigate into allotments and encroachments at sites in the state — 1997-98.
• Re-elected to the Legislative Assembly, Goa — 1999.
• Leader of Opposition — 1999.
• Member, Committee on Delegated Legislation and Business Advisory Committee — 1999-2000.
• Elected Chief Minister of Goa and held portfolios of Home, Finance, Personnel and Education — 2000-2002.
• Re-elected to the Legislative Assembly and subsequently became Chief Minister — 2002-05.
• Currently leader of Opposition in Goa Assembly.