Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Lokayukta Justice (retired) P K Misra on Monday ordered that notices be issued to former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and two others in the illegal second renewal of 88 iron ore mining leases in the State.
The Lokayukta office confirmed that a preliminary inquiry in the complaint has commenced and the complainant was called on Monday for a deposition. The Lokayukta on Tuesday will issue notices to Parsekar, former Mines Secretary Pawan Kumar Sain and Mines Director Prasanna Acharya under Section 12 (2) of the Goa Lokayukta Act. The respondents have to submit their replies by May 7.
“Lokayukta has ordered to issue notices to Parsekar, Sain and Acharya. The notices will be issued tomorrow (Tuesday). The next hearing is scheduled on May 7,” the Lokayukta’s office said.
The Lokayukta has initiated preliminary inquiry into the complaint filed by NGO Goa Foundation (GF) against the trio, demanding investigation into the illegal second renewal of 88 leases claiming that the renewal led to loss of Rs 1,44,000 crore to the State exchequers.
Speaking to media persons after deposing, GF director Dr Claude Alvares said, “I have deposed before the Lokayukta,” but refused to divulge details stating that the investigations of Lokayukta are confidential. Alvares had appeared along with his lawyer Adv Norma Alvares.
In its 300-page complaint, GF said that the three were involved in grant of mining leases in violation of Supreme Court judgment and the provisions of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR). The complaint against the trio has been filed under Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
GF has pleaded before the Lokayukta to investigate the circumstances that led to the en masse second renewal of 88 mining leases in the State to various private leaseholders.
, including one multinational corporation, from the period November 1, 2014 to January 12, 2015 through flagrant abuse of power and conspiracy by the persons listed as respondents in this complaint.
“The total loss to the people of the State is conservatively estimated to be Rs 65,058 crore (recovery from illegal mining between 2007-12), plus Rs 79,836 crore (value of ore lying at the 88 leases) comes to Rs 1,44,000 crore. If interest is added, the amount exceeds Rs 2,00,000 crore,” the complaint had stated.
