Ban on Iron Ore Exports Loomed Large in Goa Close.

PANAJI: Some tense moments for the Digambar Kamat government, economic uncertainity due to fear of ban on iron ore exports, protests over medium of instruction in schools and 50 year celebrations of liberation marked 2011 for Goa.

As the state readies to welcome several thousand tourists to its beaches to ring in the new year, the political atmosphere is also hotting up in the run-up to assembly elections in 2012.

The Congress government has begun its election campaign, although subtly. Congress President Sonia Gandhi was in Goa, two days before the December 19 Liberation Day to address the rally. Also, Kamat doled out sops in the form of schemes, bonus for government employees and other things.

The state also celebrated its 50 years of liberation from Portuguese rule. While the festivities are still continuing, the industry is worried about the Justice M B Shah Commission report, which has initially indicated total ban on iron ore exports.

The mining industry, which contributes more than Rs 1,000 crore to the state exchequer and provides employment for several thousands in seven talukas, has been backbone of the economy. There are fears that the economy will collapse once the ban is imposed.

Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan took additional charge of the post in Goa after S S Sidhu's term expired.

Another issue that grabbed headlines was the government's nod to English as medium of instruction in state-aided schools from the current academic year, a decision that led to protests as some groups claimed it would spell doom for Konkani and Marathi medium schools.

Two persons were killed in May after a factory was set on fire by irate locals at Balli village during a tribals' agitation for long-pending demands including reservation in government jobs.

From September onwards, Goa witnessed mud slinging between political rivals on illegal mining issue. Kamat and some of his ministers are accused of indulging in the activity.

The report of Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar-led Public Accounts Committee was supposed to be explosive for the state government. But the Congress managed to delay it without bringing it to the floor of the House. The dangling sword of Justice Shah Commission, however, continues to threaten the government. Figures ranging from Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 10,000 crore are being discussed in illegal mining trade.

Political parties were also busy engineering their own combinations and alliances.

Congress and NCP are planning to get into pre-poll alliance while the regional Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party is drifting between Congress and BJP.

The final combinations are yet to be announced. A major challenge before Kamat government is to convince people to accept the Regional Plan 2021, a futuristic land use plan. Civil society members, NGOs and village groups are claiming that the plan was tampered with and agriculture land was converted into settlement zones. The government, which was supposed to implement the plan from new year, has now put it on hold.

The annual International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in November but there was some controversy over the dates after which it was decided that from next year the itinerary will not clash with the feast of St Francis Xavier.

Brazilian director Oscar Maron Filho dying of a heart attack while addressing an open forum at the festival also made news.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com