TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa Su-Raj Party on Tuesday petitioned the Special Investigation Team to probe the role of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the Rs 35,000 crore illegal mining scam.
GSRP in its petition submitted to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) K K Vyas has stated that during Singh’s tenure as union Minister of Environment and Forest (from May 17, 2007 till May 29, 2009), 16 environmental clearances were issued to mines within 10 kms from wildlife sanctuaries and national park, in direct violation of the Supreme Court order.
Two ministers of state – Nano Narian Meena (Congress) and S Raghupathi (DMK) are also under the scanner.
GSRP pointed that following Supreme Court’s order in 2000, MoEF on May 4, 2001 issued a circular directing all states not to submit proposals for diversion of forest land in protected areas, without seeking prior permission of the Supreme Court, but notwithstanding the order, MoEF granted environmental clearances to 19 mining leases located within the Netravali wildlife sanctuary. Of the total 19, 16 ECs were granted during the period between May 17, 2007 and May 29, 2009.
