Audit on Goa mining firms: CM says cooperate or face action

, Oct 28: The

government has said it will launch a criminal investigation against those mining firms that are not cooperating with a state-appointed panel of chartered accountants looking into the financial transactions related to iron ore extraction and export between 2005-2012.

The findings of the committee, comprising 17 CAs, will have a bearing on a probe into illegal mining. "Some mining companies are not cooperating. I have issued directions to the Secretary that if they (mining firms) do not cooperate we will have to go for registration of a complaint against them," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters today.

He said the state government may initiate criminal investigation against such firms to know why they are hiding details, if any. "If companies don't cooperate after Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) issues directions to them that means obviously they have something to hide, so I will have to go for a criminal investigation of that company," the Chief Minister said, adding, "as of now, I am doing civic audit of the companies."

Referring to the mandate of the panel of CAs, Parrikar said their investigation was a complex task given the documents available with DMG are not in order. "Based on their (mining firms') returns filed and exports, the figures will have to be arrived at. Then only I will be able to pinpoint a person who has not paid taxes or who has not paid government revenue or who has done illegal mining," he added.

PTI