Speaking at a private function on photography, in Panaji on Monday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that while he was concerned with the rising deaths of youngsters on Goan roads, he went on to admit that thanks to the mining ban, the annual average death-toll in road accidents in Goa had come down from 310-321 to around 257.
He said that recklessly driven trucks laden with iron ore, in the mining belt, had been the cause of a large number fatal accidents in this coastal tourist State.
The mining has been banned by the Supreme Court through an interim order around 18 months back in a public interest litigation over illegal mining.
Expressing deep concern over over-speeding by two-wheelers and reluctance to wear helmets, especially among youths and tourists, Mr. Parrikar said that at least some lives could be saved if this drive about helmet and save driving is seriously taken up by some civil society groups.
Model Code of Conduct should be Humane:
Speaking further, Chief Minister pointed out that thanks to the model code of conduct (MCC) in force, imposed by the Election Commission in view of upcoming Parliamentary elections, he was handicapped in rendering genuine help to needy.
As for instance, he pointed out that on Monday morning a needy person approached him with a plea to sanction some funds from Chief Minister's Fund towards medical treatment.
When he pointed out to him his helplessness due to MCC in force and assured him to help after the MCC was lifted post-election, the person wondered how he could postpone medical emergency.
"I referred him to somebody from whom he could take the money and repay the same once I sanction him the relief post-MCC," Mr. Parrikar said, but felt that MCC needed to be "humane" to deal with such exigencies. However, hastened to add, "Over all it is definitely fair and Election Commission was fairly implementing it."
