Illegal = Legal, STOP IT

This first appeared in "The Goan Everyday"

In my last column, I had appealed to the local authorities to address the problem of illegal constructions and unauthorised structures on the public land by enforcing the existing rules. Lo and Behold, a news report reminded me that the Government was seriously apprised about the problem and were working on the solution. The options were, do nothing or follow the law and remove the illegal structures. The Government seems to have found another route, change the law and make everything legal.

Apparently in his budget speech of 2014, the then Chief Minister Parrikar had promised to legalise all structures which were constructed illegally. Apparently there are 30000 such structures around Goa. The logic apparently was that by making the structure legal it would be possible to collect atleast Rs 100 crores as house tax. Lots of money for a cash strapped Government. This way the Government would be able to make some money on services rendered. After all the illegality was only because the house owners could not complete the complex formalities related to getting construction permissions. Since Mr. Parrikar is elevated to the center, the current Chief Minister is ensuring that the promise is fulfilled.

Rather than first simplify the procedures so that no more illegal structures come up, the government in its wisdom decides to legalise the structures in one stroke. The Dy CM has gone a step further and has asked the panchayats to issue “house nos” because the cabinet has taken a policy decision. Imagine the confusion. “House nos” will be issued without following existing procedures. Once, “house nos” are issued the panchayat can start collecting house tax is the logic behind the hurry. The rider, “house no.” does not make the structure legal, it is only for the purpose of collecting tax. So this means in every panchayat we will have legal houses with house nos and illegal houses nos. More confusion.

The story does not end there. There is another complication, cutoff date. Already there are two cut off dates being bandied around, one 28 Feb 2014 and another 2000. Structures built before the cutoff date will survive. The logic of these cut off dates is not important. It is some date that seems to have popped up in the decisions makers mind. I wonder why they do not just say all illegal structures constructed “as on date” will be regularised, that way even the new illegal structures will get regularised as they come up. After all the government has taken a policy decision and moreover why wait and lose house tax revenue.

The only opposition to this seemingly hare brained scheme seems to be coming from the leader of the opposition, he seems to believe that the only beneficiaries of this scheme will be non goans who are illegally occupying goan land. There is no doubt that this could be close to the truth.

Then why were the Baina structures demolished, surely they could have contributed to the house tax, and dilly dallying on the structures on Chicalim comunidade land. There does not seem to be a single direction that the government wants to take, it is either case to case basis or area to area. Another way of putting it is the government is deciding as per their whims and fancies of elected representatives. Not really the best method for deciding a policy.

The cumbersome procedures that other law abiding citizens follow to build their homes has two parts. One part relates to the ownership of land. The permissions can only be given if the land is owned by the applicant and if the land is designated for settlement. The other part is the construction has to follow a set of rules with respect to setbacks, heights area etc. What this decision will do is ensure no one follows the cumbersome procedures, they will build where they want and how they want and then wait for the simple procedure of regularisation.

Another signal that this scheme will send immediately across the country is that Goa is a soft State and they welcome everyone with the promise of providing free land and “house no”, this is in addition to ration card, electricity water etc. That is why Goa is called Paradise?????

The solution our dear leaders have worked out is flawed and definitely not in the interest of goans or Goa. Since this decision benefits a section of the vote bank, the only beneficiaries will be the political class which must be keeping an eye on the forthcoming elections in 2017 or earlier.

So, all efforts must be made by law abiding citizens to force the government to rethink this goan unfriendly scheme. The citizens must push the law makers to reconsider the cumbersome procedures of home building, they are already thinking on those lines with reference to construction licenses of builders under PM Modi's, ease of business mantra, surely they can do the same for the AMM ADMI and see that Ache Din spreads to law abiding and not law breaking citizens.

The Rule Of Law: Needed to curb illegalities (Part 2)

This first appeared in "The Goan Everyday"

My previous column which highlighted the fact that Goa was a migrants El Dorado because it is easy to set up a home or business on the roadside or in any open space. Most of those who read it agreed with me, one political activist asked “So what can be done”.

The easiest answer is NOTHING. If we do nothing then there is no immediate hassle. There will be no stepping on the political toes that have encouraged this phenomena for self serving ends. There would be no need to fight the system. The down side to doing nothing is frightening. The most important is that the Legal Goan will be out numbered and therefore out gunned in his own back yard.

What can be done? One thing is certain, there is no need to add any new laws or rules to address the situation. The existing laws rules are sufficient to tackle the situation with reference to illegal gaddas(businesses) or homes.

The recent demolition of illegal homes at Baina or the small hut set up between an electric transformer and a pole in the heart of Margao are examples of how the existing rules are available and potent if the authorities decide to take action. The question that begs an answer is what were the authorities doing? Did the 180 -200 homes come up over night? How did the residents get ration cards, electricity water connections over the years? While the residents lost their homes, because the land did not belong to them, were they staying free or did they have to pay all and sundry to avail of the facilities normally reserved for legitimate houses? Why is not a single person from any authority suspended for allowing this illegality to happen under their noses and for years?

The person who built the hut in the middle of Margao chose a wrong place, had he picked a spot say on the new unfinished Comba bypass road, no one would have objected and in a few years he would have got himself neighbours and a brand new slum would have developed. A few religious structures would have been added and voila it becomes more than legitimate. Indestructible if you wish. The residents would also adopt the person they feel has the best chance of ruling the area as their Patron Saint for more security once they get the all important voting card.

The Baina demolitions exposed another unhealthy trend. That of politicians and bureaucrats from the States where the effected people originated, descending on the area in support of illegal activity. Instead of building a STATE Bhavan only for visiting politicians or well heeled residents why cannot the Sate authorities buy land in Goa and build legitimate residences for its migrating residents if they are so concerned?

The Church weighed in too. But, church land or land belonging to a religious order has been given to a business house in order to prevent encroachment. Surely what is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander. The Church has vast properties, instead of selling it off to builders they can build low cost houses and give it to the poor so they do not have to live in illegal houses. Ofcourse the Chruch has a point, why only Baina, what about the other illegal structures all over the State, some very rich people also have built illegal structures on their property, should they not be demolished as they have violated the rules?

The best way to address this issue is two fold. 1) Do not allow any new illegal structure to come into play. 2) Systematically as done in the case of Baina, go after existing illegal structures.

Part one is easier said than done. Take the case of Baina and investigate carefully who gave permissions for electric connections to these homes. The Electricity Department has rules which have to be followed before releasing a new connection. Were they followed, if yes how could they have been followed? One needs a copy of a sale deed for example, what sale deed did these illegal houses provide? Similarly, these residents had ration cards and this implies they had house nos, issuing of house nos has its own procedure and rules, how did these residents complete the procedure. Surely the investigations will prove what is known, ie lapses in following procedure to issue the documents.

Once this is proved, the Officer who released the connection or ration card can be pinpointed and action can and should be taken against him. The moment this is done even in one case, the issue of fresh illegal ration cards and connections will stop. Today, no one is worried about any consequences of demolition except the effected resident who looses everything. If we go beyond demolitions and chase down the offending officials, there will be no new illegal structures.

The bottom line is follow the Rule of Law from today.

Tail piece: I know you are laughing and saying what about the politician, leave him alone. Once the bureaucrat decides to do the right thing, a politician can do nothing.

Illegal Gaddas and Homes: Ease of Migration (Part 1)

This First Appeared in "The Goan Everyday"

Europe is facing a crisis, and will have to figure out a solution sooner than later. The same solutions are required in Goa and no one appears to be thinking about it.

There is an argument that goans migrate all over the world and hence are in no position to complain. We do not hear on stories of Goans deported because the are living illegally anywhere. Nor do they create any nuisance by building shanties on other people's property or building illegal colonies, a la moti dongor with the help of local powers that be. Indians and now even foreigners have a right to settle in Goa under the existing laws and they should be welcomed if they make that choice. They must however follow the rules and respect those who live here.

The issue gets complicated because some people see migrants only as votes because they are a vulnerable class. They are in a new place and therefore easy to exploit. In addition, if they can be made permanently vulnerable so much the better. This is easily done by encouraging them to squat on land in different parts of a constituency and then holding the damocel's sword of demolition over them.

Goa draws many people because it promises a better life than that in most parts of India. The inflow comes from two avenues. The unregulated flow of people looking for work in the labour category, labour is required for mining, fishing, hotel and industrial activity. Two, the ability to easily set up a Gadda at any street corner without any fear of official action. Gaddas include pan, fruit, bhel etc

With goans showing aversion to jobs in the workmen/labour category due to the perception that wage is low, jobless youth from poorer parts of India have turned up to meet the demand. At the higher end, say officer level, the problem is not so bad as this category usually comes on a transfer so their housing etc is taken care of by the Company. Being from the middle or upper middle they are not potential vote bank material and hence not wooed by the powers that be.

These labourers usually live in areas where they work so Verna/ Sancoale for Verna Industrial Estate, or Zuari Nagar for Sancole industrial estate. In these areas, the locals have made it a business to rent out accommodation. Siting at home one can earn a tidy sum. Small (10 feet x 10 feet) rooms are rented out to as many as possible. These rooms usually do not have water, electricity or sanitation. The public at large therefore bears the social cost while it is the individual who rents that rakes in the moolah.

Given the easy money, these accommodations proliferate. They are usually illegal from planning point of view as they have no permissions or are built on encroached land. These structures which are rented out should be inspected by the authorities to ascertain their legality. If the structure is legal, then it should be checked to decide the number of people who can be accommodated in the room based on the infrastructure available, eg no of toilets, size of septic tank etc. The authorities should also ensure that every resident has a police clearance as required by the law.

When Goa was under Governor’s rule some years back the local people complained that the industrial estate was responsible for the problems that were plaguing the village viz: since there was no sanitation, the migrants were dirtying the fields and open spaces, there were instances of the local women running off and subsequently being duped and being abandoned in other parts of India. The industry body, felt that the locals were opening their doors to the outside labour on their own accord, as such industry was not responsible for the consequences. The local panchayat authorities had to act to prevent the encroachment, and illegal renting.

Move around anywhere in Goa and you will see gaddas mushrooming all over the place. The latest phenomena is every morning a vehicle drops a young man with a basket of fruit on the highway, the scene is repeated a kilometer ahead. The number per day depends on how many arrived. Go to the Margao market in the evening, 20-30 young men are selling fruit from baskets along the roads all over. Outside shops or restaurants, you will find a youth behind a small box, selling cigarettes and the banned gutka openly.

The local labour gets out priced because these workers stay in one room to reduce their costs, and since the labour rates in their own home town iare much lower they accept low wages. On the other hand the roadside sellers, pay no taxes, electricity bills etc and therefore out price the shopkeepers and effect their business.

In the interest of the law abiding locals, it would be imperative that the authorities stepped in and curbed this menace of illegal roadside business and rental services. It has to be done now or the problem will be too big to handle, the assumption here is that the problem is not so big yet.

Biz@Blaise: Land A Scare Resource

Recently a government official mentioned that a search was on for 450 odd acres of land for the proposed NIT. This requirement was getting to be very difficult to meet because the conditions were stringent, even the area earlier ear marked for the proposed sports city was not good enough.

The question is, who decides how much land is required for a particular project and do these people factor in the area that they are looking at. The fact that IIT Mumbai has 1000 acres or that BITS Goa is built on something similar forms the basis of such indents for land? Is availability not a factor, can Goa and and other State we looked at in the same way?

The land given to IIT in the early 60's was in an area in Mumbai where at that time no one would have believed was habitable. If you pass by IIT Mumbai, you will see low rise housing occupying what is now prime property. Surely if IIT Mumbai was being set up today, it would have been done with a much smaller piece of land but with the same standard of excellence. Infact across the road from IIT, Hirandani's have built tall buildings housing many more people in less land compared to the IIT. BITS Goa, developed the new campus keeping in mind the fact that the land had been left vacant for so long it was a sitting target for acquisition. Magarpatta township in Pune, is an example of win win acquisition, it is teeming with housing, schools and offices, it occupies 450 acres.

So if we need to set up an institute of excellence, will 50 acres or even less not be sufficient. The max no of students would be 5000 at the peak, assuming a teacher student ratio of 1:20, another 1000, another 1000 for support, giving a total of 7000 people housed in 50 acres. The numbers are on the higher side but even then it allows sufficient space. Some top institutes around the world will boast of being built on a much smaller footprint. So those planning the NIT should factor in Goa's paucity of land and come up with innovative designs that will require less land and still enable it to be a center par excellence. That way there will be less or no resistance from locals.

The continued acquisition of land for industry is causing angst among land owners. There is no doubt that land is required for industry. One possibility is that far sighted planners are acquiring and keeping lands for future industry. However this is not the case, the acquisition is for setting up industry today. This despite the fact that there are already acquired and allotted lands lying unused. Should utilising these vacant unused factories or buildings be a priority. The acquired land in industrial estates is allotted at concessional rates to entrepreneurs to start industry which will in turn employ people gainfully and contribute to the tax kitty which in turn will help development. Keeping them locked is not helping the objective.

Therefore the GIDC which is the nodal agency should consider ways and means to make these unit operational. One way would be to consider applying a non operational tax on all closed units so that they are forced to either restart or transfer in favour of someone who has an idea and wants the space. After all a closed unit is a white elephant, it neither contributes to the exchequer nor employs anyone. Under the watch of the previous Government, because the focus was on individual rather than the State, all industrial land was usurped by traders and utilised to store cement or steel and even tiles. Cost of land in the cities was far higher than even the unofficial price in industrial estates. In Margao for example if a sq mt was 20000/- + in the Verna Industrial Estate the unofficial price was just 4000/sqm. Cheap, if one was looking for godown space, but expensive if one was thinking of setting up a factory. The net result we have a corporate office, godowns by the dozen and even a bungalow in the industrial estate.

Maybe it is time to reconsider what we are acquiring land for, rather than say for only manufacturing we should also include services, IT/ITES financial services, where a single building will accommodate many more employees and contribute more tax revenues. This would be more efficient use of scarce goan land.

For Goa and goans, land is a scarce resource and should be treated that way. Every effort has to be made to get maximum value using minimum land. We always wish and look at Singapore as a model to be emulated. Singapore's educational institutions are now being recognised around the world and they do not have 450 acres each. The industrial activity in Singapore is something to be talked about and it coexists happily with the services industry. It is time our political setup began to think more in terms of Goa and not “self or party” Its time people start asking how development can be achieved using limited resources efficiently. If this happens, Goa will be a better land.

Biz@Blaise Black money Red Herring

Since his swearing in ceremony, PM Modi has impressed with his out of the box thinking. Was disappointed when in his latest Radio address, he has promised the country he will bring back poor people's money stashed away in foreign bank accounts.

First of all, whatever money is in politicians or bureaucrats secret and illegal accounts, it is surely poor people's money and belongs to all Indians. Money of rich businessmen in these accounts is partly due to us Indians, ie tax portion. My argument is with the end being attacked. Why are we focusing on bringing back money stashed abroad, why are we begging some countries to share information which is outdated at best, so much noise over the bank lists and then it is said they pertain to 2006.

We must focus on activities at home that generate this black money, a fraction of which then finds its way to a foreign bank. Ofcourse from these foreign banks the money is rerouted into India through channels in say the Cayman islands or other tax havens where no questions are asked. They thus legitimately enter back into India as FDI, PN or real estate. Some of it has even come back as RDX and that is why every right thinking Indian has to guard against black money. It may look like it is just another parallel economic activity to avoid paying tax on hard earned money, but it also opens doors for many antisocial and anti national activities.

If one has to target black money creation at home, one will seriously have to look at 1) Corruption : The principal generator of black money is corruption, it is the root of all evil. The new initiative to focus on MAKE IN INDIA and simplify paperwork will have an impact on reducing avenues for corrupt officials to make money. However reducing avenues for our politicians to make money is more difficult. Look at how every political party has opposed the EC guidelines to bring transparency into the system of political contributions.

2) Real estate business: by its very nature is most prone to dealing in black money. So much so that even salaried people have to convert white into black to be able to do a transaction. In Goa, we could have reduced the avenue for corruption in land conversions by adopting the regional plan but as you will notice it is not happening. Do not blame only the politicians as this flux situation surely benefits some vested interests who are not politicians.

3) Front companies are a bane, Just before the radio talk the PM asked banks to spearhead the search for money hidden behind a veil of subsidiaries and trusts. The new Companies Act has plugged many loop holes which were exploited in routing black money back into the system though a maze of subsidiaries. In the Jaylathia case the Judge referred to her numerous accounts to facilitate the movement of cash. This two pronged attack is a step in the right direction.

4) Tax Structures: The high incidence of tax makes people try and avoid paying. On the other had the penalty for not paying tax appears to be a slap on the wrist. So it makes evading tax lucrative and high return. Then there are issues like no tax on farm income, the only beneficiaries as farmers are genuinely poor are politicians who show huge as farm income. In Goa we use trawlers, you will notice that the fish find only politicians nets as rest of the fishermen do not make as much money selling fish. If the trawler owning fisherman looses the election his fortunes with fish also seem to change, fishy world.

These issues need a change in attitude in order to be addressed. The change in attitude is what Goa CM Parrikar has in mind but unable to practice. ZERO TOLERANCE to corruption. The reality is even if he catches someone corrupt he will prefer to transfer the person as proceeding is very tedious and time consuming. The famous Jayatiltha case went on for close to two decades and seems to be a first, while we all know there should be many more CM's in the same position. Zero Tolerance should include a harsh jail sentence, confiscation of property and speedy completion of trials as is being envisaged in rape cases. Not some silly penalty, a few days in jail and rest of your life to enjoy the spoils.

Zero tolerance would then mean that each individual feels it is his or her responsibility to curb black money/ corruption as it is anti national. They would compare the list with the facts on the ground and report assets held in benami names or which are not disclosed. No question of harassment, as once pointed out it can be quickly concluded by checking financial history if it actually belongs to the person or not. If yes, what is the source of income? If legitimate no issue, if not big problem. So simple.

In short if PM Modi is serious about money stolen from poor Indians, he should focus on the areas where the money is stolen, and stop or make stealing difficult and not where a small part of it is stored. This is India's biggest problem which he seems willing to address. If he does manage, it will make him one of India's greatest Prime Ministers.

Fightng Black Money is Like asking fish to dry the pond

The Lok Sabha debate on black money was a waste of time. The Finance Minister kept repeating himself, if the names of the account holders were to be disclosed in violation of the treaty, no country would share any information and if there were any evaders in the list they would get be free.

Waste of time because every political party starting with the Congress, every few minutes one member would rise say the same thing, the explanation was not satisfactory so we are walking out. Really, the Congress was at the helm of affairs when this issue surfaced. Could they not throw light on the issue which they want us to believe the Government is hiding and is a list of just 427 names worth walking out for.

 

Assume all 427 are guilty, will penalising them or putting them in jail going to rid the country of this menace. Their major point was that the BJP promised results in 100 days. The fact that black money abounds and most likely given the situation in Goa, most of it will be in the hands of ruling politicians. Ofcourse, you can hear them say in one voice, if proved we will resign. In short the debate in parliament to me was an eye wash.

While the BJP has a point, disclosing the names will not serve any long term purpose, on the other hand surely they can go after some of the black money still in the country. Or can that happen only after the 427 names are cleared.

Black money is of two types in my opinion. One which is unaccounted after a legitimate business transaction. Quite a few businessmen generate cash income which is taxable but they prefer to avoid paying income tax, so they would have broken the law. This should not be a priority. Given the increasing level of IT usage, KYC norms, requirements of PAN no etc, slowly but surely the net is widening to encompass such evaders. Increasing consumerism is pushing the cash out. Today people who have it want to flaunt it. 

The more serious and dangerous black money is generated by corruption. This is what can be termed as anti national and deserving of the quick and harsh punishment in say Singapore. We do want to be a tiger economy like Singapore, but without the hard rules. The Mumbai bomb blasts showed how a few corrupt officials allowed death to pass by them for a few rupees, assuming it was just another consignment of drugs or gold, not realising it was RDX.

We have corrupt politicians who have no qualms about selling the countries wealth just so that their nests are feathered. Watching them we have our bureaucrats who also guide and act as enablers to help the politicians. Today, they do not need businessmen, politicians have become businessmen, going by the number of crorepatis in Parliament. The few who oppose the politicians nefarious designs are shunted around a la Kiran Bedi.

We can surely not expect politicians to address this issue because that is like asking fish t o dry the pond. They will do anything for votes and another politician can be useful especially if he has corrupt baggage. The general defense is there is no proof, or if implicated the charges are assumed to be politically motivated. 

In Goa, the BJP rose to power and there are great expectations of change. Three years on that expectation is still waiting to be fulfilled. There were a number of scams, yet today not one has seen the light of day. To be fair, one officer in GIDC was terminated. What about the others, did he act alone? There is a clear cut case against the previous Chairman of GIDC, yet no case is registered. More like dangling the sword has more value than striking. The same situation exists in the mining cases, now the figure is down to 3000 crores, great can we see some action, surely it did not happen without political support. This refusal to act against the politicians is a national malaise. The Jayalatha case was significant because it has bucked the trend. If every prosecutor or investigating agency did their job as well as the people involved in the Jaylaltha case, we would see more convictions. Once we have more convictions we will see a reduction in corruption, if not it is a gamble with no down side.

A government employee facing a disproportionate assets case, explained his source of income as fees for performing religious services. Either he has to charge a huge amount per session or he has to be doing it full time. Both are not feasible, so obviously it is income from another source. Can the investigator not question those who are reported to have paid the fees and conclude if the source is genuine or not. However this is the trend, politicians show income from farms, fishing trawlers and hotels. Yet full time farmers commit suicide and trawler owners regularly ask for governmental assistance in the form of diesel subsidy and non politician hotels never have 100% occupancy.

This illegal money turned into legal money is then used to invest in other legitimate business. It is literally cocking a snoop at the anti money laundering act and laughing all the way to the bank.

PM, Modi is doing away with archaic laws, one he must look at seriously is the law that makes paying a bribe a crime. It should be repealed and only receiving a bribe should be a crime. Will he have the political will to do it? That would make a difference in the fight against black money not a debate.

3 years/300 days: hope or hopeless

Dear NaMo and MaPa
Congratulations on completing 3 years in the State of Goaand 300 days at the center.

PM Sir, distinctly recall your words to a group of industrialists on your first official visit to Goa. You said that in just a few days in office and your biggest achievement was the fact that you and your Government had instilled HOPE in the population.  I agreed with you fully. 

However 300 days later, I am hoping you will begin to walk the talk sooner. Given the mess left by the previous government you surely deserved to get some time to begin. 

You were impressive right from the word go. At your oath taking you came up with and ace. Then you launched “Swach Bharat” and “Make in India”. So simple but yet powerful enough to put India right up there if implemented right. Surely with your impressive track record and no nonsense approach it would appear we would be well and truly on the path to development. The only way to alleviate poverty and ensure equitable distribution.

However your inability or reluctance to curb fringe elements has put the brakes on. The dichotomy is easy to see. In the budget your government gave reliefs to encourage the leather industry. On the other hand affiliated State governments have taken or are taking decisions which are contrary and effect the leather industry adversely.

You are pushing for ease of doing business but the government in Maharashtra put 1000's out of business and the Goa in government refuses to act on its own promises of shifting casinos because it will effect investor sentiment. The thought process is missing before speaking or acting.

I am hopeful you will focus on development and not just make statements to contain fringe elements but act against them to give an example. They may be throwing small pebbles at the moment, but pebbles also cause ripples in calm waters. We need calm waters to focus on development. This is well within your

Mr. Parrikar, three years is a long time in power and surely your government realises that the time for blaming all your problems on the previous regime is over.

You were impressive as LOO, you too instilled hope in many and for some anything was better than the congress. Your main plank was ending corruption. Yet three years later your government seems to have found no wrong doing by any members of the previous regime. If at all there has been some noise about a possible scam and that too is sooner than later quietly buried. Does it mean nothing wrong was done or the exchequer was not looted. Does it mean you raised the bogey of corruption only as a poll plank. Surely you will agree that the exchequer was looted and that your government does not have the will to look for reason best known to you all

In the case of the loot at GIDC you have been shown the proof and you as the then CM and then GIDC Chairman promised to file the FIR. Till date nothing has happened? Not exactly, nothing. One official has been sacked. This means that there was something rotten in GIDC and only one person was held responsible. A few employees seeing the big guns loot also tried to make hay, but unless action is taken against the top, does anyone have the moral right to act against employees who dabbled erroneously in a single plot. It also seems to point to the fact that those who milked the system earlier are free today because the current government is protecting them for whatever reason. Even in the cases related to the PWD it is a congressman who is pushing for punishment. Where does this leave the much talked about ZERO TOLERANCE TO CORRUPTION slogan.  Is it just a slogan. Again, if you wish to be in sync with the centre on corruption, Mr. Modi when visiting Goa said, he cannot stop corruption, but he promised rules whereby one could insist on “free” delivery is rules were followed. Hence reduce discretion, make rules which everyone must follow.

One can argue that you have been promoted so you are not accountable for matters of the State anymore. Nothing can be further away from the truth. Many including yours truly voted and supported the BJP because of you. You may not wish to be sen as the defacto head, for all practical purposes you are. You still command and are directing actions in Goa, your weekly visits are to review the same. So, please look into the areas you had promised Goa and Goans and act so as to fulfill promises made. You surely did not make them on a personal level but on behalf of your party. Look at the mess in GIDC, the Regional plan is pending, the mining issue awaits attention, there too we have not seen any recovery of the 3500 crores you mentioned was looted. Atleast get back some, if your calculations were wrong, surely you were not totally wrong when you said, there has been wrong doing in this sector. If your Government can take a decision despite the poll code in progress, atleast when there is no code of conduct take decisions and set things right.

We are happy that you have been recognised at the national level and are going to do great things for Indians and the armed forces in particular. Please review your Governments three years with respect to your poll promises and plug the gaps.

All the best for the remainder of your respective terms.