Govt has to find solution to mining crisis: Parrikar

With uncertainty prevailing over resumption of mining activity in Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said the government and not the court can find a solution to it.

The Supreme Court recently halted the transportation and extraction of ore in the state pending inquiry report from the Centrally Empowered committee (CEC), which will probe into the illegalities pointed out by Justice M B Shah Commission.

“I have strong objections to a ruling like this....In situations like this it is governments that have to deliver,” Mr. Parrikar said Wednesday night while speaking at a function to mark the birth anniversary of former minister late Matanhi Saldanha in Panaji.

The state government had suspended all the mining leases on September 10 and subsequently in the first week of October, Supreme Court ordered halting of extraction and transportation of iron ore in Goa.

The people dependent on mining activity fear to lose their livelihood if the ban continues.

“It is the government which has to put stop to the mining,” the Chief Minister said.

The Shah Commission report estimated a whopping Rs. 35,000 crore loss to the exchequer due to illegal mining in the last 12 years.

Referring to the demand for recovering the money from the mine owners, Mr. Parrikar said, “If anything has been looted from the state, it will be recovered.”

“It is very easy to say that the Rs 35,000 crore has to be recovered. Executing it is very difficult,” he added.

Mr. Parrikar said the government had sent notices to all mining companies asking why the money should not be recovered and all of them replied saying that the report was wrong.

“Now I have to sit and worry about the issues that mine owners have pointed out, because the administration has to function in a particular way. Else, we will get dragged to court,” he said.