Team Herald
PANJIM: Union Mines Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday directed all mineral rich State’s to speed up formation of ‘special anti-extortion cell’, which aims at preventing attempts of extortion or money laundering by illegal miners.
Goa government has failed to constitute the cell as directed by the Mines Ministry in 2011. The Department was of the view that since there is no mining-related extremism or naxalite activity in the State, it is not needed in Goa.
Responding to a question raised by Goa media persons, Goyal, via a video conference from New Delhi, directed the Mines Secretary (GoI) to submit a report listing out the States that have constituted the cell and those that have not.
“I will personally speak to the Chief Ministers of the respective States to expedite the process of setting up anti-extortion cell, as it will help curb illegal mining trade to a greater extent,” the Minister said adding, “I was not aware about this but I am grateful to the media person for highlighting this crucial issue.”
The Minister said that extortion has paved the way for illegal mining and money laundering.
The Ministry official informed Goyal that the central coordination cum empowered committee (CCEC) on mineral development and regulation has been dealing with the respective State’s over need for the formation of such cell.
Earlier, the Minister urged States to set a special surveillance system to keep a tab on the quantum of iron ore mined by the lessee. “There is need to put a system in place to look into the issue of excess mining. Since production and transportation issues are dealt by the State Mines Department, I would urge them, to introduce a system wherein you can know the exact quantity of ore mined by the lease holder,” Goyal said.
Between 2007 and 2011, mining lease holders in Goa were involved in extracting ore beyond the permissible limit prescribed in the Environment Clearance (EC).
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Shah commission loss figure
struck down by SC: Ministry
The Union Mines Ministry said the findings of the Justice M B Shah Commission of a Rs 35,000 crore revenue loss to Goa, have been struck down by the Supreme Court and hence the question of recovery does not arise. “There is no question of so much (Rs 35,000) crore revenue loss and recovery. The findings have been countered by the State government as well as struck down by the Supreme Court,” a senior Mines Ministry official present for the video conference along with Minister Piyush Goyal told media persons. The official said that the Supreme Court was of the view that the Commission did not give a proper hearing to the respondents – lease holders – and hence one-sided findings cannot be accepted. “SC clearly said that based on the findings there cannot be prosecution,” the official added.
