Is the State government serious in recovering the mining loot? That’s a question that could have been asked in 2012, when the Shah Commission report was tabled in Parliament and the State government rushed to stop all mining operations in Goa, and the reply would have been negative. The question asked again in 2018, would get the same answer. This is simply because there has never been a political will in getting back the money that never made it to the government coffers due to illegal mining.
Rs 35,000 crore, the amount the Shah Commission pegged as the loss from illegal mining, is an unimaginable figure. With that amount in its kitty, the government could have transformed the State, but almost six years later, we are nowhere near recovering even a single rupee of this loss.
It is obvious that there is no seriousness in recovering this loss caused to the exchequer. This statement can be backed by the fact that the State has been asked numerous times to recover the monies, but the government just plods along, attempting to show that it is working towards it, but the progress is minimal. With the State finances being extremely tight, especially with the fresh ban on mining operations, the recovery of the mining monies would go a long way in balancing the State budget, and also for taking up additional development projects.
Let’s get objective. The first Goa became aware of the magnitude of the mining losses was in 2012 with the tabling of the Shah Commission report. Since then, more figures have come to light. The Comptroller and Auditor General of Indian had exposed Rs 1900 crore illegal mining between 2009 and 2016 in violation of mining plan and ECs and slammed MoEF, IBM and DMG for their failure to initiate action against violations resulting in loss of revenue. Following the second renewal of losses being held illegal by the Supreme Court, Goa Foundation has pegged the total recovery amount to Rs 65,000 crore from illegal mining between 2007 and 2012.
These are the losses. Here are directives to recover the losses. The Union Mines Ministry in October 2017 directed all mineral rich States to recover the full value of minerals extracted illegally or without EC, following the Supreme Court’s 2017 judgment on Common Cause versus Union of India and Others, related to illegal mining in Odisha. Pertinently, the Odisha government had begun recovery proceedings and even attached properties of the mining companies. On February 7 this year, when the Supreme Court order the closure of mining operations in Goa, it also nailed the government for its failure to recover the monies. It directed the State to take steps to expedite recovery from the mining lease holders pursuant to the show cause notices issued to them and pursuant to other reports available with the State of Goa including the report of Special Investigation Team and the team of Chartered Accountants.
If the Odisha government can begin recovery proceedings, going on to attach the properties of the mining firms, why can’t Goa take even a single step towards doing the same? Compare Odisha’s alacrity with Goa’s lethargy. While Odisha is miles ahead in the recovery process, the Goa government is still awaiting working towards a roadmap to set off the recovery process. That is what Herald was told this week. Replies sent to the government by mining firms to show cause notices for the recovery of Rs 1500 crore that were sent eight months ago are to be evaluated. If the government works at such a slow pace, then can we ever expect it to bring back to the government account the State’s losses from mining? It is their duty to do it, yet it almost as if one is asking too much from the government.
