Digambar Kamat, A Saint, A Fool Or The Devil It looks like the sky above Chief Minister Digambar Kamat is about to burst open and drown him in the tsunami that he himself has triggered off. Initially he was blessed with the mines portfolio by none other than the present leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar, during his tenure as the Chief Minister when BJP ruled Goa, it was then that he realized the amount of honey that oozed from the mining honeycomb and for the last two terms as the Congress Chief Minister he has been very possessive about his honeycomb, that he has not let anyone or anything else come near it. The two major portfolios that Digambar Kamat holds are very lucrative indeed, mining and TPC.
With excessive mining in Goa, life in and around the mining belt had become a nightmare, with death and illnesses a galore, due to reckless driving and pollution, excessive mining has also elevated the water problems due to receding water tables as a result of which people have revolted all over Goa against mining, but with the unlimited wealth at their disposal form mining, the mining barons in partnership with our politicians have been using our security services to harass, threaten and intimidate the people opposing them and their rampant rape of our environment and our ecology. If mining has been a major problem, the TPC too, with it's support and approval for mega housing has given Goans enough headaches to last us a life time, as land filling, hill cutting, the destruction of sand dunes and mangroves to accommodate mega housing has not only devastated our environment and our ecology but also magnified our water, electricity and other infrastructural problems. Mega housing has not just affected the topography of Goa but also the demographic scale that has tilted against Goans, as migrant vote banks are generated at every nuke and corner of Goa, as a result of which we have had several intense law and order situations as well. Digambar Kamat is a very versatile and conniving political tactician, which has helped him to survive and overcome the volatility in his political edifice and hold on to his throne for two terms, as just before that, Chief Ministers in Goa did not survive or last, more than a few months, some not even a week or two. Over the years we have only watched in awe, his genius manipulative orchestrations, be it to safeguard his chair or his credibility and also to put unhealthy and disgruntled elements form his own coalition or outside it, in their place and that, he did with aplomb. It's indeed a real pity that a man of his caliber, with such a wealth of ingenuity, has come up a cropper short, in fair and effective governance. It is such a waste of talent, if only it was used for constructive purposes. Finally, the vast monstrosity which was being buried in the mining craters of Goa's underbelly, that we all knew but could not prove, has finally been unearthed by Justice Shah and we have at last come to terms with the dimensions, magnitude and the enormity of this monstrosity. I am sure like me most Goans did not think much would happen when the Justice Shah was asked to do the mining endoscopy on Goa, as commissions have come and gone a galore without a whiff or even a wimp in the past, as politicians and bureaucrats fortified themselves with their political clout and in untouchable cocoons. No matter what happens next, Justice Shah should be given all due credit for his concreteness, commitment and zest with which he has uncovered the scam. Identification of the perpetrators, who have caused unimaginable devastation of our environment and ecology for monetary gains, is just a matter of time. Justice Shah we Goans and environmentalists around the world salute you and pray that the work, that you have done, rubs on to the others around to perform and be worthy of their office and cause and we all hope the offenders get what's due to them with full interest and your efforts not go in vain. With all the turmoil, the mining scam has caused, in my heart I still feel, though he shouldn't, Digambar Kamat will still come out of this crises unscratched but will certainly meet his "Maker" at the next elections, as I am sure Madgaokars know when it's time to say, "the buck stops here and now" ! The investigations without doubt point in just one direction, to the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat but he has come out strongly saying, that he knew nothing about illegal mining in Goa, so is he a saint who does not know or do anything evil, or is he a fool who does know what is evil, or is he the devil who is all evil ? What's your take ? Madgoakars you do have a stand to take ! Freddy Agnelo Fernandes ##################################################################################### The content of this electronic communication is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and any others who are specifically authorized to receive it. It may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or otherwise placing reliance on the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful in certain legal jurisdictions. If you have received this communication in error please notify the sender immediately by responding to this email and then delete it from your system. #####################################################################################
