Probe to focus on civil liability
SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Goa government is all set to hand over crucial illegal mining case to the Lokayukta next week complaining about the civil liabilities created due to the scam, unleashed allegedly during the former Congress-led government. Various politicians including then chief minister Digambar Kamat, bureaucrats and mine owners are likely to be named as accused in the case before the ombudsman.
The move comes almost a year after Justice MB Shah Commission exposed the illegal mining scam estimated at around Rs 35,000 crore. The Shah Commission findings had named Kamat among others for the illegalities in the mining and export business.
Sources said that State Mines Ministry, headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar would be complainant in this regard. “The case would be handed over next week,” an official said. Without disclosing any details, the official said the criminal aspect of the illegal mining would not be handed over to Lokayukta.
However, when asked about the Mines Department’s move to file a case before Lokayukta, the chief minister said, “I have not received any file… once I receive it, I will look into it”.
Parrikar said the Supreme Court should have exempted at least those who had done minor irregularities or illegalities in the mining sector. At least they should have been allowed to start mining. “They were also punished,” he said, while stressing that “the actual culprits must be punished”.
While criminal liability of the scam is being investigated by Anti-Corruption Bureau, Lokayukta would be asked to probe into the civil liability including the responsibility to pay the damages which illegal mining has caused to the environment.
Highly-placed sources stated that civil liabilities of the illegal mining include the loss to the State exchequer, loss to the environment, encroachment outside the mining leases and others.
Justice Shah in his report had pegged the loss at Rs 35,000 crore to State exchequer between 2007-2011, which is expected to increase as subsequent reports are released. However, Parrikar, put the scam at Rs 5,000 crore. The BJP in the run up to the last election had put it down to Rs 25,000 crore.
The names of the persons accused for civil liabilities have been kept under wraps and it is also not clear whether officials of Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) would also be made accused in the case.
Shah Commission in its report had also cited MoEF and IMB officials as shielding illegalities in the mining sector.
The decision of the government came even as it appointed Justice (retired) RMS Khandeparkar Committee to look into the findings of the Shah Commission and investigate into the mining scam. Parrikar has clearly stated that the government had already appointed Khandeparkar Committee and the decisions would be taken as per Committee recommendations.
The Supreme Court has currently halted all mining activities including transportation of iron ore in the State. Mining in Goa was suspended following Shah Report in September 2012 by State government and there is a ban on mining activity since then.
