Goa Can Be Export Hub: Sharad Pawar

PORVORIM: Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said that Goa can become an important export hub.

Speaking at an NCP workers' convention in Porvorim, he said that India exported 1,86,000 crore worth of agricultural produce this year, and Goa with its long tradition of agriculture and horticulture can also be a part of this success story.

He said the success of the agricultural sector can also be replicated by the fishing industry which is also a major industry in Goa, and similar success can be achieved in exporting fishing products.

Pawar, however, made no comment on the proposed Mopa airport.

He said Goa needs to focus on four areas: Agriculture, fishing, tourism and mining to bring prosperity to the people. He also assured to lead a delegation of mining-affected people and stake-holders to meet the prime minister soon to resolve the mining issue. "There is no need to have a blanket ban on mining. Only the illegal mining should be identified and stopped. By this complete ban, so many thousands of people are now facing difficulties for no fault of theirs," he said.

Former tourism minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, was earlier, was inducted as the new president of the Goa unit of the NCP, while Yuri Alemao was inducted as the president of the youth wing of the Goa NCP.

Union heavy industries minister Praful Patel, MP Supriya Sule, NCP observer for Goa and Sawantwadi MLA Deepak Kesarkar and other state-level NCP leaders including Jose Philip D'Souza were also present at the well-attended workers convention.

Outgoing state NCP president Surendra Sirsat was appointed as a national secretary of the NCP, while Tanvir Khatib, the outgoing state youth NCP president was made secretary of the national youth wing of the NCP.

Speakers at the convention pointed out that Pawar had helped resolve the issue of the trawler owners protesting against the diesel price hike recently, besides also solving the issue of the release of the Tillari waters to Goa which had been stopped by Maharashtra, affecting many farmers in North Goa.

They said Pawar would, similarly, be able to resolve the mining issue. They also pointed out that it was NCP leader Praful Patel who had solved the vexed issue of the Dabolim airport expansion. Parrikar was dubbed the 'Master of U-turns' for his various flip-flops'.