NT NETWORK
Panaji
More than seven years after the state started the process to recover dues from the illegal mining, the government so far has got back only 32 per cent of the money estimated by the committee of chartered accountants, it was revealed on Thursday.
According to information disclosed on the floor of the state legislation assembly, the committee of chartered accountants appointed by the government for audit of mining leases and recovery of mining dues had estimated Rs 240 crore dues from mining leaseholders; of which Rs 79 crore has been recovered until now, said the government.
Replying to a question raised in the assembly on steps taken to recover the illegal mining dues, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the portfolio of mines and geology, said that as per the Supreme Court judgment and order dated April 21, 2014, the state had appointed a committee of chartered accountants to study the audit reports prepared by
empanelled chartered accountants appointed for audit of mining leases, and based on their summary reports show-cause notices were issued to leaseholders.
“After hearing of the leaseholders the order for recovery was passed,” said the Chief Minister in his reply.
The list of leaseholders from whom money is recoverable was also annexed with the reply.
Virtually all the mining companies in the state are in the list. Most of the large mining companies have not paid any of the dues, while some leaseholders have partially paid the amount recoverable from them.
Goa’s illegal mining scam was estimated at Rs 35,000 crore by the Supreme Court-appointed Shah Commission.
However, subsequently the government scaled down the extent of the scam, saying that the total loss to the state from illegal mining could not be more than Rs 3,500-Rs 4,000 crore.
Iron ore mining is closed in the state after the Supreme Court vide its February 2018 order quashed 88 mining leases.
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