Mining row- No place for blackmail

Letter To Editor published in GT, 1/3/2013 It is disgusting to read that the CM of Goa is using apprehensions of suicides and violence in the mining belt to blackmail the courts into permitting the commencement of mining (GT, 28/02/2013). Does the CM mean to say that if the mafia manages to create an apprehension of suicides and violence, a State Government must succumb and permit illegal and clandestine activities to go on? The Government's statement reflects the low levels of governance in the State. The State Government's business is to provide crisis management programs to prevent suicides. As for the violence the RAF, and if needed even the armed forces, should be stationed in those areas to respond to any law and order problem arising. The Goa Foundation is well within its constitutional space to seek justice from courts when the State resorted to terrorising victims of illegal mining instead of protecting the rights of aggrieved citizens. Should the people believe the Government's assurances of not allowing illegal mining when for over 20 years it ridiculed and beat up activists claiming that all mining was legal?