"I am a crusader against illegal mining": Digambar

PTI, PANAJI | 27 September 2011 00:14 IST

Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today steered himself clear of the controversies surrounding illegal mining activities in the coastal state claiming that he himself was a crusader against this increasing phenomenon.

"During my tenure as Mines Minister in last ten years, I have never supported illegal mining. Forget that..I have not renewed a single mining lease or permitted new lease in my tenure," Kamat told PTI in an interview here. 

Kamat, who is facing allegations of shielding multi-crore mining scam, said that it was only after he informed the then Union Environment and Forest minister Jairam Ramesh about irregularities in Environment Clearances (ECs), that the moratorium was issued on new leases and renewals. 

"In February 2010, I had told the Union ministry that ECs were given despite objections raised by locals during the public hearings," he recalled. 

The Chief Minister said that the situation in Goa is not as grave as Karnataka. 

"Things are being blown out of proportion in certain sections of the media. Goa government has been acting against illegalities in mining sector whenever they are brought to the notice," he claimed. 

Kamat said few people were mining ore in their farms. "We have cracked down on such illegal minings and also fined them for crores of rupees," he said in an apparent reference to the recent case against NCP leader Jitendra Deshprabhu who was arrested for illegal mining in his property. 

The Chief Minister said the state has been insisting for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Mines department, which shippers need to produce before exporting the ore. 

"These are the steps to curb illegal trade and evasion of royalty," he said. 

"Both the ports - Mormugao Port Trust and Panaji port, are adhering to this norm," he added. 

Kamat said the decision on new leases or renewal would be taken only after the state has its mineral policy in place. 

The Chief Minister said in the meantime, all the mine owners have been asked not to touch the old ore dumps till they are registered with the department. 

"We are trying to ascertain how many dumps are existing in the state and whether exports are made from these dumps or from fresh extraction," he said. 

Kamat said the state has no machinery in place to ascertain whether ore is a fresh extraction or ferried from the old dumps. 

Goa has 90 mining leases which exports around 54 million metric tonnes of ore, majority of which is Iron ore. 

The Central government-constituted Shah Commission is currently investigating into the illegalities in the mining sector. A rough estimate reveals that the mining illegalities are between Rs 1,200-10,000 crore.


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digambar`s days are numbered.the central congress leaders were after the blood of yediurappa and their puppet governer bharadwaj,was given the task of deseating him.now,let us see ,what do they do ,about the goan multy crore scandal of illegal mining activity here.

- pedru peixote, goa | 28 th September 2011 17:14

 

I doubt many right thinking Goans are going to believe in what, the soon to be "Dishonourable" Chief Minister of Goa, Digamber Kamat says. There is a general perception that he is steeped deep in to corruption. He is well known to turn a "Blind Eye" to everything. His main reasoning & objective is to keep his “chair” as Chief Minister of Goa. By Being a Chief Minister of Goa, he benefits from a lot of perks and pieces of the “Loot”. Being a "Chieftain" of his forces on Monti Dongor , only carries a first stage of electoral benefits.

He should be well aware, that "IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO DEFFENCE". If he cannot understand this term or abiding principle of Law, then he should consult his overpaid Advocate General of Goa, Subodh Kantak. Alternatively there is always, the well practised, Adv. Valanka Alemao, the new woman of the masses.??!!

Digamber Kamat, has frequently told Goan Citizens, that the "LAW WILL TAKE ITS OWN COURSE". Perhaps Goan citizens should now tell him, that the Mining Scams, under his 11 year Ministership of the Mining Portfolio will also take its own legal course.

Every segment of Goan Society, from NGO`s, environmentalists, ecology experts and ordinary Goan citizens, especially those affected by Mining, have told him about illegal & rampant Mining. Yet he has never been seen to make any comment on this or take any stand. This can only indicate some sort of ”Cover-up”, & “connivance” to protect his interests and those of his cohorts and his extended Mining family interests .

Even if Mr Kamat is not directly involved or associated with Mining, the very fact that he is in charge of the Mining Portfolio for nearly 12 years, should hold him responsible. It was under his watch, that the Mining has gone out of control and filled the coffers of Mining Criminals, who in all likelihood have financed his Ministerial position & electoral successes too.

The natural beauty of Goa has been defaced irreparably by scumbags. It is only appropriate, if convicted, that they all face ”Capital Punishment”. Thankfully, “Hanging”, is still an option in India for very serious crimes. A jail sentence would be too kind.

Even the Congress High Command in New Delhi has been shocked & disturbed. Perhaps Digamber Kamat will now spend more time in Goa, rather than New Delhi. Video Conferencing, his new computerised & cyber age toy, is still an option, for him, to stay in contact with New Delhi.

- N.Fernandes, London | 27 th September 2011 16:40

 

Digu, nobody told you that you are the CM and the buck stops with you? The irregularities happened on your watch and as a punishment you have to take sanyas and do some real 'samaaj' seva.

- Jagan, USA | 27 th September 2011 03:40

 

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