Rupesh Samant

Margao, Apr 9: Shiv Sena assured resumption of mining activity and protection to wildlife as key poll assurances in its manifesto released on Tuesday for the voters.

Shiv Sena’s State Vice President and South Goa candidate Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik released her manifesto in Margao town on Tuesday, which has assured that the party will work towards resumption of mining activity in the State.

The iron ore mining in the state have ceased to function after Supreme Court quashed 88 leases in February last year.

“Shiv Sena has always stood by the mining dependents and they will continue doing so. Our main assurance for this election is to ensure that the mining resumes. We will leave no stone unturned to make sure that the industry reels back to normalcy,” Naik told reporters in Margao after unveiling the manifesto.

In a unique assurance, Sena has assured minimum financial support for the mining dependents through centre, in case the industry gets into troubled waters.

“State will have a mining policy, which would be vetted by the Centre. Through this policy, the Centre will provide minimum support to mining dependents, in case, the industry collapses,” she said.

Sena has also assured to make Goa’s water bodies free from Casino laden vessels. “There will be total ban on off-shore casinos in the State. The existing casinos would be given a time frame of three months to move out. No alternate space would be provided to them,” the manifesto reads.

Uddhay Thackrey-led party has also assured complete protection to River Mahadeyi from any kind of diversion. The cases pending before Supreme Court and Mahadeyi Water Tribunal would be disposed off. Personal attention would be given for trial of these cases, she said.

In yet another assurance, Sena has said that there will be complete implementation of Wildlife Protection Act in Goa.

“A central level committee would monitor the implementation of Wildlife Protection Act in the State, so that there are no locally induced violations. A Judicial commission would be formed to inquire into existing illegalities in wildlife,” the manifesto reads.

Sena has also assured to scrap the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019.

Sena is contesting only on South Goa parliamentary seat, while it has dropped its plans to contest in North Goa.

Sena has no representation in Goa Legislative Assembly.

Sena’s Naik would be pitted against BJP’s Narendra Sawaikar, Congress’ Francis Sardinha and AAP’s Elvis Gomes.