NGO accuses ex-Goa CM of Rs 1.44 lakh cr mining scam

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IANS | 23 Mar, 2018
NGO Goa Foundation on Friday filed a complaint with the state Lokayukta, accusing former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and two mines department officials of a Rs 1.44 lakh crore illegal mining scam.

The Goa-based NGO, whose petition in the Supreme Court resulted in the closure of 88 mining leases in the coastal state, in its complaint to the Lokayukta has alleged that the "illegal renewal of 88 mining leases in Goa led to losses to the state government of Rs 1,44,000 crore".

Parsekar has denied the accusation, claiming the decision to renew mines was taken on the basis of written advice from senior officials.

In his complaint, Claude Alvares of the Foundation alleged that the second renewal of 88 mining leases was carried out to "private individuals and companies for extraneous considerations outside the purview of the Mines Minerals Regulation and Development Act".

In its order last month, the apex court ordered stoppage of mining activity in 88 mines in Goa from March 15 and directed the state government to issue fresh leases, after completing the necessary environment-related formalities.

The apex court was also critical of the haste with which the state government renewed the mining leases.

A majority of the 88 mining leases were renewed by then state government, led by Parsekar, shortly before the National Democratic Alliance government in New Delhi amended the Major Minerals Development and Regulation act in 2016.

Parsekar has meanwhile maintained that the leases were renewed by his government on the basis of "written advice" from the state Mines Department officials.

"The renewals were granted on the basis of written advice from the Mines Ministry and other officials. There are notings," he has said.