Digambar breaks silence, denies indictment in mining scam

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 14 September 2012 22:09 IST

Former Congress chief minister Digambar Kamat has refused to accept that he has been indicted in the Shah Commission report on illegal mining.

“There is only a passing reference against some government officers and the minister concerned of the mines department regarding condonation of delay in renewal of mining leases”, he claimed.

Breaking his silence before HCN TV channel, Kamat said neither his name is being mentioned in the whole report nor any direct allegation has been made by Shah Commission, except claiming condonation as an irregularity.

According to Kamat, the decision to condone the delay in renewal of mining leases was taken only after seeking legal opinion from the law department.

“If this decision is found to be wrong, it could very well be challenged before the respective regional authorities”, opined the former chief minister.

Kamat was the mines minister for nine consecutive years in the BJP as well as Congress governments, including the one headed by himself as the Congress chief minister.

The mining lease rules had given powers to the government till 2000 to condone the delay in applying for renewal of lease.

However, these powers were withdrawn from 2000 onwards.

But Kamat condoned the delay between 2006 to 2011, on the grounds that the applications for renewal were made prior to 2000.

The law department had also given a legal opinion that the government had powers to act on the applications made prior to 2000, though these powers were later withdrawn.

He also reminded that the then union minister for environment and forests had imposed moratorium on environmental clearances to few mines in 2010, based on his requests made twice in this regard.

Kamat felt that the Shah Commission report needs to be verified properly since it has not taken all the sides into consideration.

Under the Commission of Enquiries Act, Kamat observed that every party, if found responsible for any act, needs to be heard by sending legal notice to appear before the Commission.

“I was neither sent any such notice nor summoned for any hearing before Shah Commission”, said the former chief minister. 


goanews.com is now on Telegram & also Youtube. Kindly subscribe for free & remain updated.


Drop a comment

Enter The Code Displayed hereRefresh Image


Previous Comments

Mr Digamber Kamat will surely never understand the term "Guilt by Assocation".

Is Mr Kamat now telling us Goans that we should Prosecute the Law Dept.

Doesen`t the Buck stop with him.Doesn`t he have the last say? Does he not sign-off / authorise the condonation?

Lets hope he knows the difference between fact & an opinion.

Digamber Kamat should know, toappease his in-laws, he has taken Goa to the brink of natural disasters.

Being Educated does not mean one is a visionary or naturally posseses common sense.

Education is purely academical.Education can also produce fools.

- N.Fernandes, London | 15 th September 2012 12:50

 

Chorak sodanch tond vodlem. This looter Ex-CM of Goa should be hanged in public at Moti dongor.

- Goa for Goans, Goa | 14 th September 2012 23:43

 

Latest News

Mining

Desktop Site