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PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Saturday said that 40 per cent of the mines could start, as they were mostly legally clear, after the Supreme Court finally gives a green signal to mining in the state. He also said that he had already started recovery of money from mine leases.
Parrikar added that the Mines Department was not functioning properly and promised to streamline it after the assembly session.
However, so far no criminal proceedings have been initiated against any one involved in illegal mining which has been estimated variously at Rs 35,000 crore by the Shah Commission, Rs 25,000 crore by the BJP (just prior to the assembly elections) and Rs 3,200 crore by the Parrikar-chaired Public Accounts Committee.
“Forty per cent of the mines are almost legally perfect. Only from those which can pass (muster) we have take money from,” said the chief minister, referring to the stamp duty notices sent to 16 leases, emphasising that leases in wildlife areas had not been sent notices.
The Supreme Court placed an interim ban on mining activities in the state since October.
The chief minister, speaking after briefing mediapersons on the cabinet resolution said that just because they (mining companies) are signing the leases, “this did not mean that they would be allowed to extract from everywhere,” adding “but (they will be allowed to mine) only as per lease document.”
Speaking on recovery of revenue, Parrikar claimed that the recovery process had indeed started.
“I did take money from the mine owners. I have got Rs 248 crore. Our expenses will be around Rs 12 crore per month on the package (for mining affected persons),” he said
Criticising the previous governments for allowing a free hand to mining companies he said, “For 20 years they did mining for free. Right now they are not doing any mining but they have to pay,” he said adding that the lease term was from 2007 to 2027.
Stating that he was not very happy with the Mines Department, Parrikar alleged that “many of them are involved (in the illegal mining issue) and promised that he would streamline the department after the assembly session.
“After assembly I will put in (recruit) people,” he promised.
