Goa PAC Indicts State Government in Mining Scam, Blames Key Politicians

Panaji, Oct 5 (PTI): Indicting the Goa government for the mining scam, the state assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is understood to have said there is reasonable doubt that influential politicians, including ministers, and those close to the power are deeply involved in it.

The report recommended that an independent agency like Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Lokayukta be asked to investigate into illegal mining nexus being carried out in connivance of local politicians, bureaucrats of the Mines and Forest departments and police force.

PAC sources said the report, which would be tabled on the floor of the House tomorrow or on October 7, has not named name any politician except Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Deshprabhu.

The committee did not go into complete details of the individual mining violations except a few who are involved but said "reasonable doubt prevails that influential politicians including ministers and those close to power are deeply involved".

The report of the PAC, chaired by leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar, has said locals in the mining belt were very vocal in naming the nexus between politicians, police and officials of forest and mines department.

The committee, which has based its investigations on the Comptroller Auditor General report, is understood to have said that total export of ores for last ten years needs to be investigated to identify the source of illegal mining and the money trail to identify the culprits involved.

The report is understood to have recommended that officials in forest and police department in talukas of Sanguem, Quepem, Bicholim and Sattari be transferred.

The committee, which has gone through the data provided by mines and forest departments, has concluded that 56,56,450 tonnes of ore have been extracted from the state for which no royalty has been paid during the financial year 2010-11.

"The quantity of the illegally extracted ore is huge and is valued at approximately Rs 1100 crore with loss of royalty of at least Rs 120 crore during the year 2010-11," the report has reportedly said.

Taking the period of 2005-06 to 2010-11, total quantum of illegal ore exported without any royalty payments is 1,42,00437 tonnes valued at Rs 2776 crores and royalty loss estimated at Rs 200 crores.