Panaji:
The Goa government has temporarily suspended operations of all the working mines in the state, pending verification of documents relating to mining activity and environmental clearances. "It is necessary in order to scrutinise clearances obtained by the mining lease holders and allowing continuation of mining without proper scrutiny and verification of requisite approval," Principal Secretary (Mining) RK Verma said in his order.
The order by the state's mines and geology department specifies that the suspension of mining operation "shall not affect trade and transportation of ore already mined and existing in the lease hold area, in transit or stored or stocked on jetties".
It comes three days after an enquiry commission headed by Justice MB Shah exposed an illegal mining scam to the tune of Rs. 35,000 crore in Goa's iron ore mines. (
Read: Goa mining scam worth Rs. 34,935 crore, says Justice Shah Commission)
The Shah Commission has indicted various government agencies that plundered natural resource and facilitated an "unrestricted, unchecked and unregulated export of iron ore to China", which made the exporters of ore "richer and richer". The report has also squarely blamed former chief minister Digambar Kamat and other bureaucrats linked to the mining ministry as the main architects of the scam, along with major mining industry players.
The BJP-led state government is set to initiate criminal proceedings against two former Congress Chief Ministers for their alleged involvement in illegal mining. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had told reporters in Panjim on Saturday that in the next 15 days, FIRs will be filed against Digambar Kamat and Pratapsinh Rane, both former Chief Ministers, and a number of bureaucrats, and officials from the Indian Bureau of Mines and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. (
Read: FIRs against two former Chief Ministers soon, says Goa Chief Minister Parrikar)
"The FIRs would be based on the findings of the Shah Commission which has pegged illegal mining in Goa to the tune of Rs. 35,000 crore," said Mr. Parrikar. Pratapsinh Rane was the Chief Minister from June 2005 to June 2007, while Digambar Kamat was the Chief Minister between 2007 and 2012. Mr Kamat held the mining portfolio for over nine years.