Thaindian News

Panaji, Oct 5 (IANS) Triggering a political storm, the Goa assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probing the Rs.3,500 crore illegal mining industry, cited a nexus between politicians and officials for the scam though it did not name Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, any minister or serving official.

Operative portions of the report made available to be media, name neither Kamat, who has been holding the mining portfolio for the last 12 years, nor ministers Joaquim Alemao and Vishwajeet Rane, who have been named by Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar at other forums as being involved in illegal mining.

According to official sources, the PAC report is, however, indicative of the involvement of politicians in the scam on the basis of “reasonable doubt”.

“Reasonable doubt prevails that influential politicians including ministers… are deeply involved,” the report states, but names only Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Deshprabhu, already arrested for involvement in illegal mining.

“How much involvement of various politicians does exist, what is the illegality quantum, can only be brought to light if a criminal investigation is conducted,” a source said, adding that the PAC report has asked for a Central Bureau of Investigation or a Lokayukta probe into the scam.

Hours after submitting the PAC’s report to Speaker Pratapsing Rane however, Parrikar, who heads the PAC, obliquely blamed Kamat for the scam.

“Does the chief minister not want to change situation in the mines department at all? He does not want to punish anyone guilty? Any third person would take inference that he (Kamat) is involved,” he said in the assembly.

“When he was the chief minister, exports rose from 16 million tonnes to 54 tonnes… Production is thrice now. What is legally extracted is 30 million tonnes (of ore). It is perfectly legal, while 20 millon tonnes is not legal,” said Parrikar.

He expressed hope that the PAC report would be tabled in the assembly Friday - the second and last day of the monsoon session.

In his response, Kamat said that the “truth will prevail” and the mining ministry should not alone be held responsible.

“Ultimately truth will prevail because there are records to support the truth,” an emphatic Kamat told the house.

“There are five government agencies which regulate mining. The mines department, the ministry of environment and forests, the Indian Bureau of Mines, the director general mines safety and the pollution control board. Each agency is supposed to take action if their laws are violated,” he said.

Asked if the PAC report would tabled in the house Friday, Speaker Rane said: “I have received the repport. I will need time to examine it.”

Meanwhile, the report came down heavily on the government.

“The Goa government and politicians in power are squarely responsible for such environmental degradation being presently undertaken by illegal mining operations,” the report states.

“Illegal mining in Goa is being carried out with the active connivance of the politicians in power, the directorate of mines and the Indian Bureau of Mines,” said the source.

The report also severely indicts top Indian Administrative Service officials, who were earlier posted as secretaries in the mining and the forest departments, without naming any.

Besides, several top mining firms including Sesa Goa, Chowgule and Group, Sociedade Timblo, among nearly 25 others, are also accused, sources said.