Goa CM Parrikar backs auctioning of natural resources

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar agrees “in-principle” with auctioning the state’s mining resources but feels that proper systems needs to be in place to facilitate this. Parrikar was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function here. “I am ok in-principle with auctioning of our natural resources, but we need proper systems in place for fair allotment of mining resources,” he said. [caption id=“attachment_1319681” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Manohar Parrikar. AFP.[/caption] Parrikar, accused by the opposition of cozying up with the mining magnates implicated in a Rs.35,000 crore mining scam, also said that he was going to ensure that the private mining companies do not earn “windfall profits”. “We are going to ensure that they do not earn windfall profits. But one must understand that mining is capital intensive and only those with substantial capital can engage in mining,” Parrikar said. Mining has been banned in Goa following an interim order by the Supreme Court, which is hearing a petition for a probe into Goa’s mammoth mining scam. A judicial commission has exposed the Rs.35,000 crore scam in which politicians, mining magnates and bureaucrats are linked. IANS