Parrikar to write another report on mining scam in Goa

Panaji, Oct 9: After the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on illegal mining in Goa, was refused to be tabled in the state assembly last week, BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, who had led the PAC, intends to write another report on the scam.

Leader of Opposition Parrikar said he would now write a "Parrikar Accounts Committee" report on the contentious issue.

"The Congress legislators always termed my genuine PAC report as 'Parrikar Accounts Committee' report. Now, since they have not let that report to be tabled, it's time to have my own Parrikar Accounts Committee report, which will expose illegal mining," Parrikar told PTI on Saturday.

He said that the report will have detailed investigation into the illegal mining scam, along with relevant documents.

The BJP leader said he would make the report public on the coming Friday. "This report would be as genuine as the PAC report, supported with proper proof," he said.

Last week, the PAC had submitted a detailed report on Rs 4,000-crore illegal mining rackets, which Speaker Pratapsingh Rane refused to be tabled in the state assembly.
BJP has been alleging that illegal mining scam had flourished under the active patronage and participation of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

The party has decided to petition constitutional authorities including Governor's office, the Comptroller and Auditor General, Chief Vigilance Officer for impartial investigation regarding the loss to the state exchequer.

The state executive of the BJP, in their meeting on Saturday, has already demanded CBI enquiry to unearth the full scam and to fix the responsibility against the guilty.
The party, in the resolution adopted, has said that 30 per cent of the total 54 million mt of ore extracted from Goa is illegal.

Stating that there has been immense environmental damage owing to the illegal mining, the party has said that government has sanctioned 13,500 hectares of forest land for diversion and cut two lakh trees to favour illegal mining.

PTI