Mining loot Rs 5000 Cr; not Rs 35,000 Cr: Parrikar

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 11 October 2013 16:17 IST

Countering Shah Commission’s contention of a loot of Rs 35,000 crore by mine owners of Goa, chief minister Manohar Parrikar today quantified the loot to maximum Rs 5000 crore in five years.

Today’s Question Hour in the Assembly was dominated by mining-related issues raised by several members of the Congress and independents.

At one stage, Parrikar said: “It is not Rs 35,000 crore as predicted by Shah Commission. The revenue loss to the state would be between Rs 3500 crore to Rs 5000 crore.”

He however assured the House that the government would not leave any defaulter and all the money would be recovered, once the Supreme Court delivers its judgement.

He also revealed to the House that the illegally encroached area outside the mining leases is hardly 9.286 hectares and not 578 hectares, as envisaged in the Shah Commission report.

Shah Commission officials had conducted a survey with hand-held GPS devises while the state government had conducted the survey with perfect GPS methodology, said Parrikar.

He also told the House that Shah Commission itself had suggested resurveying the area and arriving at a correct figure.

He indicated that the calculation of Rs 35,000 crore was made on the basis of 578 hectares when in reality it is only 9 hectares.

Members including Congressmen Aleixo Reginald Lourenco and Babush Monseratte as well as independent Vijay Sardesai were asking why only politicians were penalized and not the mine owners in the FIRs lodged by the Special Investigation Team probing into illegal mining.

Parrikar denied the charge and stated that the probe would ultimately implicate all those found guilty.

“Now we have all the data ready with us about who has encroached and who has committed illegalities. The SIT would accordingly implicate them, one by one”, he said.

Replying to a question, Parrikar also said the prime FIR is the one filed by the government, based on the Public Accounts Committee report (prepared by him) and the Shah Commission report.

The FIR filed based on Sudip Tamankar’s complaint is secondary, he said.

Names of former chief ministers Pratapsing Rane and Digambar Kamat along with other politicians figure in Tamankar-related FIR.

Stating that his PAC report was based on the report of Comptroller and Auditor General, he said it primarily dealt with condonation of delay in renewing the leases and non-payment of royalty.

Out of 41 leases whose delay in renewal was condoned, only nine mines were functional and notices have already been issued to them.

“The illegal extraction of these mines was to the tune of Rs 500 to Rs 1000 crore”, he said.

He said the government had also started the process of recovering the royalty not paid on illegally exported iron ore, which amounts to around 10 million tonnes. 


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Congratulations Mr. Parrikar on your greatest achievement in life. Thanks for informing us that the entire mining scam is 3500 crores only. Before election you told us it was 35000 crores. Now you have accepted that it is actually 3500 crores and that you added a zero to it. Now where rest of 31500 crores have gone? Have you pocketed it yourself? in between you had said there is Zero scam. Guess you were not able to pocket entire 35000 crores and had to give up 3500 crores. I wish by the time of next election you are able to swallow even remaining amout and Goa becomes scam free.

- Jayesh Nayak, Porvorim | 14 th October 2013 16:56

 

U-TURN

- JOSE ROD, GOA | 14 th October 2013 14:16

 

U-TURN

- JOSE ROD, GOA | 13 th October 2013 15:17

 

Who would the Goan Public "TRUST".....Mr Parrikar or the Supreme Court via the CEC?.

Most of what Mr Parrikar claims is a load of "Namby-pamby". I guess this translated into Hindi is "Altu-Faltu".

It is a well known fact ,that a Cunning Fox always has 2 Motives.

Most of Mr Parrikars views and beliefs has been torn to shreds in the Supreme Court. Even the over-paid Advocate General of Goa has been castigated ,left embarrassed & shamed.

Mr Parrikar may "cook" his words craftily. But the Supreme Court Judges have thus far minced them up.

Diwali is soon approaching. Lets us see if Mr Parrikar stays true to his promises of filing FIR.s one by one or to quote his own words "rampant".....or if its is just another one of his "Gimmicks" for fool the Goan Public.

- N.Fernandes, UK | 11 th October 2013 16:37

 

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