Says if not Rs 35,000 cr, atleast 20% of revenue loss can be recovered, which will help in strengthening the economic situation
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Once again reiterating that there should be recovery of Rs 35,000 crore revenue, lost by the State due to massive illegal mining, Congress MLA Mauvin Godinho urged the government to hand over the case involving illegal mining to central bureau of investigation (CBI) so action can be taken against those politicians and mine owners involved in the illegalities.
Mauvin took a dig at government for its failure to take any action against the erring mine owners and others involved in the illegalities in mining sector and since no steps being taken for the recovery of Rs 35,000 crore.
“It’s been over two and half years since the Shah Commission submitted its report pointing to Rs 35,000 crore loot by the mine owners. People want to know what steps government has taken to recover this money from mine owners, especially those fly-by night operators, who were backed by certain political forces who were in power,” Mauvin said.
The Dabolim MLA said that the Rs 35,000 crore figure produced by Shah Commission may not be realistic but it cannot be ignored. “If not Rs 35,000 crore, atleast 20 per cent of it can be recovered, which will help in strengthening the economic situation of the State,” he said.
Mauvin lambasted government over delay in initiating action against the illegal mine operators as identified by the Commission in its report. “If they can’t, I suggest hand over the case to CBI. Let them handle it and punish the guilty,” he said. Mauvin was speaking while participating in the general discussion on the Budget 2014-15. “No doubt small cases are been filed, but its high time that government take action in a big way,” he added.
Mauvin said that people involved in the theft of State resources cannot be allowed to go scot free as the resource belongs to Goans and not to a few individuals.
The Congress MLA, who recently has been at logger head with his party, hailed the BJP-government budget stating “through the budget government has managed to put certain things on the right path despite mining coming to a halt and it had no finances in the kitty”.
Mauvin expressed hope that the iron ore industry would resume in the State by December end, bringing in much need relief to government finances and to the mining dependent.
Welcoming the State government move to regularize illegal houses on the comunidade and government land by enacting law, Godinho appealed to the public that ‘the move of the government should not be considered as a move to promote illegalities’. He said that the decision would help in fetching revenue to the government and comunidade, who were deprived of the same for decades.
