Panaji:
After the Goa government ordered shutdown of all 90 iron ore mines in the state, a crackdown is likely against two former Chief Ministers who have been indicted in the Shah Commission report on illegal iron mining in the state.
The report, which was tabled in Parliament last week, exposed a scam to the tune of Rs. 35,000 crore in Goa's iron ore mines. The enquiry commission, headed by Justice MB Shah, also blamed two former chief ministers, Digambar Kamat and Pratapsinh Rane, and other bureaucrats linked to the mining ministry for their alleged involvement in the scam.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had told reporters in Panjim on Saturday that in the next 15 days, FIRs will be filed against Mr Kamat and Mr Rane and a number of bureaucrats and officials from the Indian Bureau of Mines and the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
"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. Mr Rane was the Chief Minister from June 2005 to June 2007, while Mr Kamat was the Chief Minister between 2007 and 2012. Mr Kamat held the mining portfolio for over nine years.
Yesterday, the Goa government 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".