Friday, July 24, 2009
Health is Wealth
Health security concerns?
Who is it trying to keep away or, is the Directorate of Health Services actually trying to prevent someone/something escaping from within its walls? The department hired 280 guards, 6 security supervisors and 3 security officers to guard its 28 establishments, 22 of which are public health centres. But considering the public complaints against these centres, it would seem that none of them really warrant the kind of security they get. I am unable to comprehend why the TB Hospital in Margao requires 30 security guards and 3 security supervisors when the Cottage Hospital in Chicalim, Dabolim has only 6 guards. Or why another establishment in Margao, the Hospicio Hospital has to be guarded by 30 guards, 3 security supervisors and 3 security officers. Does it mean that Margao is more prone to robberies or as the good doctor would say ‘theft sensitive’? Bad enough, that the department had to deploy all the 9 security supervisors and officers at these two establishments. If you have dared to visit these ill equipped and poorly managed health institutions, what’s your diagnosis? But guess what? The total expenditure on this between January 1, 2008 and May 5, 2009 is Rs 198.10 lakh. No need to guess this time, but the beneficiary is a Delhi registered company called G4S Security Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. Yeah, it’s always Dilli.
Rane ODed!
Is the health department on an overdose of compassion? Vishwajit Rane’s insistence that the department and the Goa Medical College give insulin free of cost might set back their budgeting by several years. Already his deliberate misreading of the issue of GMC doctors insisting on prescribing ‘so-called’ better medicines allegedly not stocked at GMC, has forced patients to buy these prescribed drugs from outside. The so-called patient outcry on there being no proper medicines at GMC is born from this and nothing else. First there’s a bit of explanation that is in order here. Patients at GMC only seem to ‘want the best medicines’. So, they are obliged by doctors more than willing to oblige multinational pharmaceuticals who – and this is public knowledge now – are willing to spend big bucks on junkets for these docs to faraway Switzerland even or, hold posh ‘seminars’ where everyone lets their hair down, and all expenses paid. In fact, because of Rane’s insistence some of these drugs are being bought from outside. And, as we know for sure now, Rane has the guts to only bully female nurses, not the doctors, who should be ticked off for not sticking to the GMC’s WHO (World Health Organization) essential drug list that I am told reliably, GMC strictly adheres to. In fact, I am told that GMC dispenses medicines valued at Rs 1.50 lakh on a daily basis. And who are the beneficiaries? Nearly mostly migrant labourers, the army’s soldiers and if you spend time in the GMC’s parking lot, you will find ambulances driving even from faraway Sawantwadi. Yeah, do that, it will cure you of some of your mental blocks about some of the GMC’s harassed staff and medicos.
Rane, an Anbumani-clone?
Is Vishwajit Rane another Anbumani Ramadoss in the making? The fact that the former is Goa’s current health minister and the latter is India’s former health minister is all that is not common between them. They both orchestrated “surprise” visits to hospitals and suspended hapless staff. A nurse was shown the door after Rane dramatically pulled off a sheet at Goa Medical College recently to reveal a hole. The nurses were on the warpath. Both scions of political families have courted controversy and just like Ramadoss who had a running battle with the chief of AIIMS, Vishwajeet too has rubbed the dean of GMC the wrong way as a result of which Dr. V N Jindal has sought voluntary retirement.
What next? Like Anbumani, will Rane go on to rub celebs the wrong way so he can get publicity?
(Feedback 6658606, 9763718501 lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Inspector Gadget
Marine Commmando Squad, Missing Persons Squad – these are not American TV serials which have stories inspired by real life. These are among the units that our Home Minister Ravi Naik intends to set up in Goa. All these names have a nice ring to them and Ravi Naik knows he’ll get his 15 minutes of fame in the media when he makes such grandiose announcements. He sure knows how to grab eyeballs. He demonstrated that when some months ago he dared Pramod Muthalik, infamous for orchestrating the attack on young women visiting a pub in Mangalore, to enter Goa. In May, after the body of a Russian teenager was found on the tracks in Tivim, Ravi Naik famously blamed foreigners for giving Goa a bad name by bringing in the booze and partying culture. Does the home minister know that many domestic tourists too booze and party as if it going out of style? Besides, if the home minister really means business won’t Goa be able to shed its reputation?
Coming back to the Marine Commando Squad, it seems our montri thinks he can spend tax payer’s money to get James Bond-like gadgets like high-speed interceptor boats, especially the 12-tonne Hell Raisers' that can be used for deep-sea patrolling. That his earlier proposal to set up an Anti Terrorism Squad has not get the centre’s green signal is no secret, so it seems that he has thought up this new avatar.
It seems strange that he should come up with these new-fangled names when the police has been found wanting when an alleged serial killer was on the loose for many months despite a missing persons complaint by 14 families (of the 16 he allegedly killed). By the way, now the police are going to have a Missing Persons Squad. It’s called locking the stable door after the horse has bolted! But all this begs the question – if the home minister had led from the front and got the police to do real police work, would he have to invent all these fancy-sounding squads?
What a song and dance
Recently, well known Hindustani classical singer and Padma Vibhushan awardee , Kishori Amonkar stormed off the stage at Kala Academy when she discovered that a casino was sponsoring her concert. To add insult to injury, she said she was not paid for the concert. She had never been so “insulted”, she said. To think she is a Goan.
Her grouse has been that classical music does not have enough government patronage. Are Goa’s cultural coffers so empty that they have to get a casino in for a classical concert? It’s another matter that they get booze companies to underwrite something like a Grape Escapade.
But, surprise, surprise, the Goa government does seem to have money for culture or so the details below would testify. But if someone of the eminence of Kishori Amonkar feels slighted one wonders where the money has gone, or should I say, who is the beneficiary of the government’s largesse?
A point to note is that Goa is known internationally for its song and dance. But not the kind of song that needs a harmonium for which Rs 21 lakhs was given and Pakhvaz for which Rs 7.50 lakhs was allotted. What a song and dance!
Details of the expenditure of Rs 48, 86,523 incurred in 2006-07 under the scheme to “Provide Musical Instruments and Performance Related Material to Cultural Troupes”:
Name of Item / Amount
Harmonium -21,02,100
Pakhvaz - 7,50,750
Zamkhan - 3,39,456
Cymbal (Taal) - 3,84,930
Keyboard - 8,00,000
Violin - 2,26,575
Guitar - 2,82,712
Total expenditure: Rs 48, 86,523
(Feedback 6658606, 9763718501 lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Marine Commmando Squad, Missing Persons Squad – these are not American TV serials which have stories inspired by real life. These are among the units that our Home Minister Ravi Naik intends to set up in Goa. All these names have a nice ring to them and Ravi Naik knows he’ll get his 15 minutes of fame in the media when he makes such grandiose announcements. He sure knows how to grab eyeballs. He demonstrated that when some months ago he dared Pramod Muthalik, infamous for orchestrating the attack on young women visiting a pub in Mangalore, to enter Goa. In May, after the body of a Russian teenager was found on the tracks in Tivim, Ravi Naik famously blamed foreigners for giving Goa a bad name by bringing in the booze and partying culture. Does the home minister know that many domestic tourists too booze and party as if it going out of style? Besides, if the home minister really means business won’t Goa be able to shed its reputation?
Coming back to the Marine Commando Squad, it seems our montri thinks he can spend tax payer’s money to get James Bond-like gadgets like high-speed interceptor boats, especially the 12-tonne Hell Raisers' that can be used for deep-sea patrolling. That his earlier proposal to set up an Anti Terrorism Squad has not get the centre’s green signal is no secret, so it seems that he has thought up this new avatar.
It seems strange that he should come up with these new-fangled names when the police has been found wanting when an alleged serial killer was on the loose for many months despite a missing persons complaint by 14 families (of the 16 he allegedly killed). By the way, now the police are going to have a Missing Persons Squad. It’s called locking the stable door after the horse has bolted! But all this begs the question – if the home minister had led from the front and got the police to do real police work, would he have to invent all these fancy-sounding squads?
What a song and dance
Recently, well known Hindustani classical singer and Padma Vibhushan awardee , Kishori Amonkar stormed off the stage at Kala Academy when she discovered that a casino was sponsoring her concert. To add insult to injury, she said she was not paid for the concert. She had never been so “insulted”, she said. To think she is a Goan.
Her grouse has been that classical music does not have enough government patronage. Are Goa’s cultural coffers so empty that they have to get a casino in for a classical concert? It’s another matter that they get booze companies to underwrite something like a Grape Escapade.
But, surprise, surprise, the Goa government does seem to have money for culture or so the details below would testify. But if someone of the eminence of Kishori Amonkar feels slighted one wonders where the money has gone, or should I say, who is the beneficiary of the government’s largesse?
A point to note is that Goa is known internationally for its song and dance. But not the kind of song that needs a harmonium for which Rs 21 lakhs was given and Pakhvaz for which Rs 7.50 lakhs was allotted. What a song and dance!
Details of the expenditure of Rs 48, 86,523 incurred in 2006-07 under the scheme to “Provide Musical Instruments and Performance Related Material to Cultural Troupes”:
Name of Item / Amount
Harmonium -21,02,100
Pakhvaz - 7,50,750
Zamkhan - 3,39,456
Cymbal (Taal) - 3,84,930
Keyboard - 8,00,000
Violin - 2,26,575
Guitar - 2,82,712
Total expenditure: Rs 48, 86,523
(Feedback 6658606, 9763718501 lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
A Profligate Government
A “cranky” Russian
When a Russian teenager was found dead recently, a Russian consulate official came here apparently on a fact-finding mission as well as to complete some formalities. A little bird says that the official was “cranky” even during a meeting with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. It’s almost as if he blamed the government for the young girl’s death when we all know that drug rumours swirled around her after her death. The normally reticent CM apparently showed his irritation with the official’s attitude. An official in on the meeting pointed out that the consular official got easy access to the CM (because that’s how we are, given the circumstances). When Indians died under a cloud in Russia, relatives were forced to run from pillar to post. Forget a high ranking politician, even meeting a top cop in Russia can be ruled out despite glasnost/perestroika.
Goa government’s profligacy
Forget MLAs who seem to have no scruples crossing floors into the arms of the highest bidder, even the Goa government is short on morals and often does not do the right thing. In fact it is the government which tacitly encourages MLAs to do their own thing and then goes to court to litigate thereby piling up work, not to speak of fees, for its lawyers. No wonder then there are so many around. Below is a list of the fees paid to various government lawyers, special counsels, senior counsels etc to appear before the Bombay High Court, tribunals, arbitrators etc from February 11, 2005 till date.
Total fees paid to various government lawyers, special counsels, senior counsels, advocates on records to appear before the Bombay High Court, tribunals, arbitrators etc February 11, 2005 till date.
1 Emercio Afonso 3,16,450
2 Shaikh Vahidulla 4,99,100
3 Winnie Courinho 1,727,806
4 Atancio Cardoz 2,08,600
5 SR Rivonkar 929,000
6 Sanjiv G Sardessai 93,250
7 Guru Shirodkar 1,069,000
8 NK Sawaikar 97,300
9 HD NAik 64,000
10 Shri K Y Thally 3,00,650
11 Shri PA kamat 1,55,100
12 SN Sardessai 2,52,000
13 HR Bharne 1,47,500
14 Parmanand Naik 2,05,400
15 Antancio Monteiro 1,26,350
16 GV Tamba 86,500
17 MP Sawaikar 1,35,500
18 RR Sangodkar 44,000
19 BV Sukhtankar 9,925
20 GD Kirtani 9,81,950
21 Rajesh Narvenkar 1,80,000
22 VP Thally 78,000
23 Susan Linhares 2,89,200
24 SN Shinde 19,300
25 EP Lobo 1,71,250
26 Datta Prasad V Prabhu Lawande 44,000
27 Nilesh A Takkekar 33,000
28 Sarvesh S Kamat Malyekar 33,000
29 Santosh H Bharne 14,700
30 Amol Thaly 26,500
31 Pratapsingh M Nimbalkar 38,300
32 JV Coelho 29,500
33 MS Joshi 1,71,000
34 John S Lobo 55,500
35 Rakhi M Chodankar 11,25,000
36 Gauri DS Bhosle 5,35,000
37 Leena Dharwadkar 7,65,500
38 Kanchan Chodankar 2,41,500
39 Vallabh Pangum 14,650
40 Manish Salkar 7,09,200
41 Subhash Pundalik Sawant 43,133
42 Harsha Naik 41,550
43 Agnelo D’Costa 2,14,050
44 Carlose Ferria 1,11,500
45 Dilip P Dabholkar 1,82,200
46 Irshad Aga 47,700
47 Durga Kinlekar 14,800
48 Rabindranath Menezes 2,64,750
49 Kishore P Prabhudessai 1,84,923
50 Talentina Xavier 1,51,200
51 Prashant Kamat 4,27,000
52 AT Kamat, govt counsel 23,450
53 Nitin NN Sardessai 2,53,000
54 RM Lotlikar 11,70,981
55 Albino C Vales 22,200
56 Prashant V Borkar 3,88,350
57 TG Jaques 2,36,100
58 Jayant Prabhu 11,400
59 VM Patkar 2,100
60 Abhijeet Kamat 2,11,000
61 Rajendra G Raut Dessai 74,950
62 Kala Dalal 16,800
63 Kishor Bhagat 7,000
64 Sapna Mordekar 1,40,000
65 Milagries P Fernandes 12,75,800
66 Vivek Rodrigues 73,500
67 Sameer A Bandodkar 49,000
68 I C Dias 2,43,855
69 Vinoj Daniel 2,86,824
70 SB Faria 2,22,000
71 Ramkrishna Bhale 5,700
72 Ignasious Dias 92,300
73 Vijay Nadkarni 4,50,000
74 Gauranj Sirsat 77,400
75 CR Rodrigues 33,900
76 Peter Fernandes 72,400
77 R G Bhale 54,300
TOTAL 1,92,09,597
Total fees paid to SC lawyers from February 11, 2005 till date
1 Anip Sachthey 6,24,400
2 Madhu Sikri 33,000
3 Harin P Rawal 100,000
4 Shriniwas S Khalap 200,000
5 Huzefa Ahmadi 160,000
6 Anupam Las Das 33,000
7 KK Venugopal 880,000
8 K Parasaran 1,072,500
9 A Subhasini 157,645
10 Srinivas R Khalap 535,922
11 S K Kakodkar 315,000
12 Nimalini Gore 30,000
13 F S Nariman 385,000
14 Uday U Lalit 33,000
15 R N Karanjawala 59,000
Total 46,18,467
(Feedback 6658606, 9763718501 lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
When a Russian teenager was found dead recently, a Russian consulate official came here apparently on a fact-finding mission as well as to complete some formalities. A little bird says that the official was “cranky” even during a meeting with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. It’s almost as if he blamed the government for the young girl’s death when we all know that drug rumours swirled around her after her death. The normally reticent CM apparently showed his irritation with the official’s attitude. An official in on the meeting pointed out that the consular official got easy access to the CM (because that’s how we are, given the circumstances). When Indians died under a cloud in Russia, relatives were forced to run from pillar to post. Forget a high ranking politician, even meeting a top cop in Russia can be ruled out despite glasnost/perestroika.
Goa government’s profligacy
Forget MLAs who seem to have no scruples crossing floors into the arms of the highest bidder, even the Goa government is short on morals and often does not do the right thing. In fact it is the government which tacitly encourages MLAs to do their own thing and then goes to court to litigate thereby piling up work, not to speak of fees, for its lawyers. No wonder then there are so many around. Below is a list of the fees paid to various government lawyers, special counsels, senior counsels etc to appear before the Bombay High Court, tribunals, arbitrators etc from February 11, 2005 till date.
Total fees paid to various government lawyers, special counsels, senior counsels, advocates on records to appear before the Bombay High Court, tribunals, arbitrators etc February 11, 2005 till date.
1 Emercio Afonso 3,16,450
2 Shaikh Vahidulla 4,99,100
3 Winnie Courinho 1,727,806
4 Atancio Cardoz 2,08,600
5 SR Rivonkar 929,000
6 Sanjiv G Sardessai 93,250
7 Guru Shirodkar 1,069,000
8 NK Sawaikar 97,300
9 HD NAik 64,000
10 Shri K Y Thally 3,00,650
11 Shri PA kamat 1,55,100
12 SN Sardessai 2,52,000
13 HR Bharne 1,47,500
14 Parmanand Naik 2,05,400
15 Antancio Monteiro 1,26,350
16 GV Tamba 86,500
17 MP Sawaikar 1,35,500
18 RR Sangodkar 44,000
19 BV Sukhtankar 9,925
20 GD Kirtani 9,81,950
21 Rajesh Narvenkar 1,80,000
22 VP Thally 78,000
23 Susan Linhares 2,89,200
24 SN Shinde 19,300
25 EP Lobo 1,71,250
26 Datta Prasad V Prabhu Lawande 44,000
27 Nilesh A Takkekar 33,000
28 Sarvesh S Kamat Malyekar 33,000
29 Santosh H Bharne 14,700
30 Amol Thaly 26,500
31 Pratapsingh M Nimbalkar 38,300
32 JV Coelho 29,500
33 MS Joshi 1,71,000
34 John S Lobo 55,500
35 Rakhi M Chodankar 11,25,000
36 Gauri DS Bhosle 5,35,000
37 Leena Dharwadkar 7,65,500
38 Kanchan Chodankar 2,41,500
39 Vallabh Pangum 14,650
40 Manish Salkar 7,09,200
41 Subhash Pundalik Sawant 43,133
42 Harsha Naik 41,550
43 Agnelo D’Costa 2,14,050
44 Carlose Ferria 1,11,500
45 Dilip P Dabholkar 1,82,200
46 Irshad Aga 47,700
47 Durga Kinlekar 14,800
48 Rabindranath Menezes 2,64,750
49 Kishore P Prabhudessai 1,84,923
50 Talentina Xavier 1,51,200
51 Prashant Kamat 4,27,000
52 AT Kamat, govt counsel 23,450
53 Nitin NN Sardessai 2,53,000
54 RM Lotlikar 11,70,981
55 Albino C Vales 22,200
56 Prashant V Borkar 3,88,350
57 TG Jaques 2,36,100
58 Jayant Prabhu 11,400
59 VM Patkar 2,100
60 Abhijeet Kamat 2,11,000
61 Rajendra G Raut Dessai 74,950
62 Kala Dalal 16,800
63 Kishor Bhagat 7,000
64 Sapna Mordekar 1,40,000
65 Milagries P Fernandes 12,75,800
66 Vivek Rodrigues 73,500
67 Sameer A Bandodkar 49,000
68 I C Dias 2,43,855
69 Vinoj Daniel 2,86,824
70 SB Faria 2,22,000
71 Ramkrishna Bhale 5,700
72 Ignasious Dias 92,300
73 Vijay Nadkarni 4,50,000
74 Gauranj Sirsat 77,400
75 CR Rodrigues 33,900
76 Peter Fernandes 72,400
77 R G Bhale 54,300
TOTAL 1,92,09,597
Total fees paid to SC lawyers from February 11, 2005 till date
1 Anip Sachthey 6,24,400
2 Madhu Sikri 33,000
3 Harin P Rawal 100,000
4 Shriniwas S Khalap 200,000
5 Huzefa Ahmadi 160,000
6 Anupam Las Das 33,000
7 KK Venugopal 880,000
8 K Parasaran 1,072,500
9 A Subhasini 157,645
10 Srinivas R Khalap 535,922
11 S K Kakodkar 315,000
12 Nimalini Gore 30,000
13 F S Nariman 385,000
14 Uday U Lalit 33,000
15 R N Karanjawala 59,000
Total 46,18,467
(Feedback 6658606, 9763718501 lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Mackenna's Gold
This ore is our ore
The Dempos sold over 1,800 hectares of leased mining licenses to Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Resources for a cash-and-carry sum of Rs 1,750 crore. But, hang on, did they actually own the ore on the land they owned, notwithstanding the fact no individual can own mineral rights in India? The distressing answer is a huge ‘NO’. Why? Because mineral wealth is the nation’s wealth -not for individuals to exploit for their personal benefit. The U.S is the only country on the planet that allows individuals to own mineral rights. And we all know what those merry band of individuals, who not only own minerals, also everything above and below earth, did to the worlds’ economy. Through a rather cunning exploitative route, the Government of India was thwarted in its plans to nationalize the mines in Goa decades ago –the compromise was the mining leases you have in Goa today. What the Government of India did was annul the concessions given by the Portuguese for perpetuity and came out with The Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Aboliton and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987. So, while everyone applauded, the deal of the century (Dempo-Vedanta) was played out making maximium use of Goa’s red soil.
Surface Rights or Mineral Rights?
If you calculate the quantity of ore that has been dug out from the earth and sold to the Japanese alone, it would give you sleepless night thinking of what the worth of that could have done for Goa. Macau would look like a poor man’s Shangri La. Here’s a bit of information that should at least make you want to pull your hair out, so you can sleep at least. Sesa Goa’s lineage has been transformed since 1954 when it kicked off as Scambi Economi SA, Goa. The following year it was jointly renamed Sesa Goa Ltd. After it was jointly taken over by Gewerkeschaft Exploration, West Germany, and Ferromin SpA, Italy, a subsidiary of Finsider SpA, belonging to the IRI group –which by then had acquired the German company’s stake in Sesa. Mingoa Pvt. Ltd and Sesa Goa were merged into one company.
Later, in the course of restructuring of certain subsidiaries within the IRI group, Sesa Goa’s ownership changed from Finsider SpA to Finsider International SA, Luxembourg, and then to Finsider International, UK. Phew! Looks like a soccer game, the way they kick around (on) Goa’s scarred red soil. In 1981, Finsider divested 60 per cent of its shareholding to the Indian public. It hiked it again under its new name Ilva International, from 40 per cent to 51 per cent in 1993 –now under the RILP umbrella. Now, tell me what stops Vedanta from selling the combined might of their mines to China’s Chinalco who were willing to offer a $19.5-billion-cash injection in favour of a joint venture in Western Australia with bitter rival BHP Billiton, just to keep out another rival Rio Tinto. It’s a long story, but what needs to be understood here, is when rare earth gets rarer $19.5 billion becomes peanuts. That’s why the US is willing to fight a trillion dollar war in Iraq to gain control over crude oil that costs far, far less to refine closer to home. And may I remind you that Rs 1,750 crore would mean chickens*#t, considering the low rupee value against the dollar, and no deterrent to future buyers like the Chinese going on an acquisition spree.
Jogging your memory
When I interviewed Emilio Riva who owned RILP in 1995 for a national business daily, in Sesa Ghor, it was crystal clear to me, that he had no intention of retaining ownership of the Sesa Goa he had just acquired. Though he denied it at the interview, he soon sold it to Mitsui who appeared to have the same itch to sell as all Sesa Goa owners inherently have; and sold it to Vedanta. The Italian billionaire had at that point of time acquired Ilva Laminati Piani SpA, Italy (ILP) the holding company of Finsider International Co. Ltd., U.K., which was Sesa Goa’s principal shareholder then. The Riva Group rose from 25th position to become the world’s fourth largest steel producer after it acquired ILP. See, it’s all about power, wealth and screw the rest. Incidentally, the Essar Group also had a 32 per cent stake in RILP!
PS: My apologies if the 2-Fast-2-Furious pace of describing how Sesa Goa was sold over the years made you tizzy. But within this restricted June 11, 2009 space I couldn’t do any better.
(Feedback 6658606, 9763718501 lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
The Dempos sold over 1,800 hectares of leased mining licenses to Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Resources for a cash-and-carry sum of Rs 1,750 crore. But, hang on, did they actually own the ore on the land they owned, notwithstanding the fact no individual can own mineral rights in India? The distressing answer is a huge ‘NO’. Why? Because mineral wealth is the nation’s wealth -not for individuals to exploit for their personal benefit. The U.S is the only country on the planet that allows individuals to own mineral rights. And we all know what those merry band of individuals, who not only own minerals, also everything above and below earth, did to the worlds’ economy. Through a rather cunning exploitative route, the Government of India was thwarted in its plans to nationalize the mines in Goa decades ago –the compromise was the mining leases you have in Goa today. What the Government of India did was annul the concessions given by the Portuguese for perpetuity and came out with The Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Aboliton and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987. So, while everyone applauded, the deal of the century (Dempo-Vedanta) was played out making maximium use of Goa’s red soil.
Surface Rights or Mineral Rights?
If you calculate the quantity of ore that has been dug out from the earth and sold to the Japanese alone, it would give you sleepless night thinking of what the worth of that could have done for Goa. Macau would look like a poor man’s Shangri La. Here’s a bit of information that should at least make you want to pull your hair out, so you can sleep at least. Sesa Goa’s lineage has been transformed since 1954 when it kicked off as Scambi Economi SA, Goa. The following year it was jointly renamed Sesa Goa Ltd. After it was jointly taken over by Gewerkeschaft Exploration, West Germany, and Ferromin SpA, Italy, a subsidiary of Finsider SpA, belonging to the IRI group –which by then had acquired the German company’s stake in Sesa. Mingoa Pvt. Ltd and Sesa Goa were merged into one company.
Later, in the course of restructuring of certain subsidiaries within the IRI group, Sesa Goa’s ownership changed from Finsider SpA to Finsider International SA, Luxembourg, and then to Finsider International, UK. Phew! Looks like a soccer game, the way they kick around (on) Goa’s scarred red soil. In 1981, Finsider divested 60 per cent of its shareholding to the Indian public. It hiked it again under its new name Ilva International, from 40 per cent to 51 per cent in 1993 –now under the RILP umbrella. Now, tell me what stops Vedanta from selling the combined might of their mines to China’s Chinalco who were willing to offer a $19.5-billion-cash injection in favour of a joint venture in Western Australia with bitter rival BHP Billiton, just to keep out another rival Rio Tinto. It’s a long story, but what needs to be understood here, is when rare earth gets rarer $19.5 billion becomes peanuts. That’s why the US is willing to fight a trillion dollar war in Iraq to gain control over crude oil that costs far, far less to refine closer to home. And may I remind you that Rs 1,750 crore would mean chickens*#t, considering the low rupee value against the dollar, and no deterrent to future buyers like the Chinese going on an acquisition spree.
Jogging your memory
When I interviewed Emilio Riva who owned RILP in 1995 for a national business daily, in Sesa Ghor, it was crystal clear to me, that he had no intention of retaining ownership of the Sesa Goa he had just acquired. Though he denied it at the interview, he soon sold it to Mitsui who appeared to have the same itch to sell as all Sesa Goa owners inherently have; and sold it to Vedanta. The Italian billionaire had at that point of time acquired Ilva Laminati Piani SpA, Italy (ILP) the holding company of Finsider International Co. Ltd., U.K., which was Sesa Goa’s principal shareholder then. The Riva Group rose from 25th position to become the world’s fourth largest steel producer after it acquired ILP. See, it’s all about power, wealth and screw the rest. Incidentally, the Essar Group also had a 32 per cent stake in RILP!
PS: My apologies if the 2-Fast-2-Furious pace of describing how Sesa Goa was sold over the years made you tizzy. But within this restricted June 11, 2009 space I couldn’t do any better.
(Feedback 6658606, 9763718501 lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
All hot air
Debate needed
Wonder why your 40 rulers never debate issues in the State Assembly where they are constitutionally bound (leave aside the meaningless oath they take) to discuss issues that affect the public? Instead they just score debating points against each other and real issues get sidetracked. Here’s another thought. If they did oblige you their game would be up, wouldn’t it? And you would know because you can see through their games. That’s why the BJP waits till the crap hits the ceiling and become the heroes going by the media play they get by bringing up a ‘burning’ issue in the assembly. That the media focuses on non-issues is another matter altogether. Often, a press conference timed just before the Assembly session, adds fuel to the fire. That is why no Assembly debate will ever be had on why Churchill Alemao wants the new State of Kargoa, i.e., a merged Karwar and Goa. Or perhaps a debate on how he finally got on to the home lane on the issue of four or six laning the NH from Panjim to Margao; or, if it should be extended to Karwar! After all, Churchill, who is tipped to be the first chief minister of Kargao, did say ‘take me seriously’ outside the assembly not inside. Or, a debate on whose side the Dhavlikar Brothers and Vishwajit Rane are on, rather how many sides they are on. Because whichever way they might want to interpret voters’ rights in Sankhali, you have a constitutional right to know which way they swing. But, these debates are never going to happen in the Assembly. So, let’s do it here.
But debate this for Godsakes
The GTDC I fear could turn into an ogre, if let out of its cage unfettered. It was turned into a dangerously big corporation when all the properties owned by the Tourism Department were transferred to it. Why, for example, did the Tourism Department or GTDC sign a 21 year-lease agreement for the Terekhol Fort Heritage for a rental of Rs 1,05,000 per month with a Harkishan Ajwani. Why commit to as far away as 2023 in as early 2002. Where is the commercial sense in this? And will the honchos who bid for GTDC’s land because they are money driven, not demand 99-year-old leases in return for the crores they will invest. All considered why lease out the Old Goa Residency restaurant for a mere Rs 22,950 per month. In fact, GTDC has literally hundreds of leased out shops whose lease agreements must be researched and revaluated for their real potential. And when I say real potential, I mean potential to the tourism industry which appears to occupy the minds of the people who run the GTDC these days. When I last checked, GTDC had not leased out its cafeteria and land at Pomburpa. Earlier, when it had, it fixed a lease hire of Rs 2,144! It has not leased out its land with a restaurant at Vagator because of a dispute over the availability of water there. Since it had earlier fixed a lease rent of Rs 1,68,096, it translates into losing exactly that kind of revenue. But, this GTDC will not study issues like those described here, on the contrary it is rubbing its hands in glee at the prospects of the ‘financial’ opportunity in the property it has in its possession.
Should not the GTDC lease its hotels to industry players who have the expertise and money to back their expertise? After all, there literally is not a hotel group in India that is not looking to buy, is buying hotels or taking them over on lease. GTDC has 12 hotels with a total room capacity of 529, and in the past when it wanted it did privatise three hotels in Mollem, Terekhol and Pernem with a total room capacity of 38.
This land is our land
Calangute 3,769 sq mt meant for developing a shopping complex.
Calangute 4,583.10 sq mt meant to expand Calangute Residency.
Calangute 1,850 sq mt meant to construction a resort.
Calangute 22,850 sq mt to construct dormitory, car/bus park, cottages.
Calangute 22,081 sq mt meant for providing basic amenities.
Calangute 276 sq mt meant for constructing toilet.
Baga 29,925 sq mt Fatima D’Sa when she was GTDC chairperson had her own plans for it.
(Feedback 6658606, 9763718501 lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Wonder why your 40 rulers never debate issues in the State Assembly where they are constitutionally bound (leave aside the meaningless oath they take) to discuss issues that affect the public? Instead they just score debating points against each other and real issues get sidetracked. Here’s another thought. If they did oblige you their game would be up, wouldn’t it? And you would know because you can see through their games. That’s why the BJP waits till the crap hits the ceiling and become the heroes going by the media play they get by bringing up a ‘burning’ issue in the assembly. That the media focuses on non-issues is another matter altogether. Often, a press conference timed just before the Assembly session, adds fuel to the fire. That is why no Assembly debate will ever be had on why Churchill Alemao wants the new State of Kargoa, i.e., a merged Karwar and Goa. Or perhaps a debate on how he finally got on to the home lane on the issue of four or six laning the NH from Panjim to Margao; or, if it should be extended to Karwar! After all, Churchill, who is tipped to be the first chief minister of Kargao, did say ‘take me seriously’ outside the assembly not inside. Or, a debate on whose side the Dhavlikar Brothers and Vishwajit Rane are on, rather how many sides they are on. Because whichever way they might want to interpret voters’ rights in Sankhali, you have a constitutional right to know which way they swing. But, these debates are never going to happen in the Assembly. So, let’s do it here.
But debate this for Godsakes
The GTDC I fear could turn into an ogre, if let out of its cage unfettered. It was turned into a dangerously big corporation when all the properties owned by the Tourism Department were transferred to it. Why, for example, did the Tourism Department or GTDC sign a 21 year-lease agreement for the Terekhol Fort Heritage for a rental of Rs 1,05,000 per month with a Harkishan Ajwani. Why commit to as far away as 2023 in as early 2002. Where is the commercial sense in this? And will the honchos who bid for GTDC’s land because they are money driven, not demand 99-year-old leases in return for the crores they will invest. All considered why lease out the Old Goa Residency restaurant for a mere Rs 22,950 per month. In fact, GTDC has literally hundreds of leased out shops whose lease agreements must be researched and revaluated for their real potential. And when I say real potential, I mean potential to the tourism industry which appears to occupy the minds of the people who run the GTDC these days. When I last checked, GTDC had not leased out its cafeteria and land at Pomburpa. Earlier, when it had, it fixed a lease hire of Rs 2,144! It has not leased out its land with a restaurant at Vagator because of a dispute over the availability of water there. Since it had earlier fixed a lease rent of Rs 1,68,096, it translates into losing exactly that kind of revenue. But, this GTDC will not study issues like those described here, on the contrary it is rubbing its hands in glee at the prospects of the ‘financial’ opportunity in the property it has in its possession.
Should not the GTDC lease its hotels to industry players who have the expertise and money to back their expertise? After all, there literally is not a hotel group in India that is not looking to buy, is buying hotels or taking them over on lease. GTDC has 12 hotels with a total room capacity of 529, and in the past when it wanted it did privatise three hotels in Mollem, Terekhol and Pernem with a total room capacity of 38.
This land is our land
Calangute 3,769 sq mt meant for developing a shopping complex.
Calangute 4,583.10 sq mt meant to expand Calangute Residency.
Calangute 1,850 sq mt meant to construction a resort.
Calangute 22,850 sq mt to construct dormitory, car/bus park, cottages.
Calangute 22,081 sq mt meant for providing basic amenities.
Calangute 276 sq mt meant for constructing toilet.
Baga 29,925 sq mt Fatima D’Sa when she was GTDC chairperson had her own plans for it.
(Feedback 6658606, 9763718501 lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
