The draft report of the Public Accounts Committee of the Goa legislature has accused the Mines Department of a deliberate attempt. to remain a silent spectator while allowing rampant illegal mining in the state. Although the report does not name Chief Minister Digambar Kamat,he has been the state Mines Minister for 12 straight years,for six years in the BJP government and later since defecting to the Congress in 2005. The draft report details the acts of commissions and omissions by the Mines Department headed by him. It hints at a clear nexus of politicians,bureaucrats in the Mines Department,local police officers and officers from the Forest Department. Opposition leader from the BJP and chairman of the PAC,Manohar Parrikar,submitted the draft report to the Goa Assembly Speaker on Wednesday. The report could not be officially tabled as four of the seven committee members,three from Congress and one from its alliance partner MGP,refused to endorse it as they needed time to study it. Parrikar said that of the total 54 million tonnes of iron ore exported last year,almost 20 million tonnes was extracted without prior permission while no royalty was paid for 5.5 million tonnes of ore. On average the value of the iron ore exported thus per year in the last five years is to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore, said Parrikar. The amount of royalty evasion alone is pegged at Rs 200 crore. The illegalities listed include iron ore extraction in excess of environment clearance,mining without forest or wildlife permissions,ore extracted from dumps and other large-scale destruction caused to environment. The report alleges that two Congress-NCP politicians Dinar Tarcar,former Congress candidate from Panaji who operates mines on power of attorney,and ex-MLA Jitendra Deshprabhu who was arrested for illegal mining were involved. Stating that several other politicians have admitted to their role as mining contractors,transporters or traders,the report recommends that the CBI or Lokayukta should probe the matter on a case-to-case basis. CM Digambar Kamat declined to comment on the allegations. I cannot comment on the contents of the report unless it is tabled in the House and I see the copy myself, he said.
