Summary:
PANAJI: Goa Foundation on Saturday demanded that the state government immediately recover Rs 3,431 crore from the mining companies and utilise the same for the welfare of mining dependents.The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India besides the committee of chartered accountants, appointed by the state government, had estimated the loss to the state exchequer at Rs 3,431 crore due to illegal mining.It said the government should stop fooling people by promising them that mining will resume next month. All it continues to harp on is amending the law and handing over the leases back to the same mining companies,” Goa Foundation alleged.Alvares said that seven months passed since the apex court shut private mining in Goa, but there is no action from the government on reserving the state for mining by a Goa Mineral Development Corporation under Section 17 A (2) of the MMDR Act. The money thus recovered should be used to pay the dues of all the mining dependents, and they cannot be made to suffer anymore,” Alvares said.The voluntary organisation stated that in certain cases the government goes out of its way to enforce its will whenever it wants.He said that in the present case, the government is simply not willing to move itself from acting due to the influence of the mining lobbies.“Despite Rs 3,431 crore due and Rs 180 crore in mineral foundations, the government is unable to help mining dependents. “If the government fails to recover the due amount, then we will move appropriate court,” he said.The Comptroller and Auditor General and the committee of chartered accountants had estimated the exact loss due to illegal mining at Rs 3,431 crore owing to mining in excess of scheduled plan, mining in excess of environmental clearances, short recovery of royalty amount and mining audit report.Speaking to reporters, director of Goa Foundation, Claud Alvares said the government obey the Supreme Court verdict in letter and spirit and expedite the recovery process.“If not, the assets, accounts and buildings of these leaseholders need to be taken over by the state..