Panaji: The Mapusa based NGO Goa Foundation (GF) is mostly likely to approach High Court seeking directions on recovery of Rs 3,431 crore dues from the mining companies in form of illegal mining.
Addressing press conference, GF director Claude Alvares said that as per the information procured under Right to Information Act (RTI), an amount of Rs 3,431.31 crore is due from the mining companies for undertaking illegal activities as pointed out by Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) and the State Chartered Accountant’s Audit report.
He said that the largest amount recovery due is from Vedanta Limited that is Rs 1,647.41 crore.
Alvares pointed out that the CAG in its report has observed that seven mining leases were involved in undertaking mining activities in excess of mining plan totaling value of Rs 1,529.64 crore.
Another ten leases were involved in mining in excess of environmental clearance limit with a total recovery value of Rs 374.99crore. CAG has also pointed out Government failure of short recovery of royalty from nine leases to the tune of Rs 17.98 crores.
Alvares claimed that as per the Chartered Accountants mining audit report, the total loss to the State exchequers is around Rs 1,508.70 crore.
“We demand that the government obey the Supreme Court order, which directed state to take steps to expedite recovery of pending dues. If not, the assets, accounts, buildings and other properties of the lease-holders need to be attached,” Alvares demanded.
“We are committed to recover these huge amounts prior to any resumption of mining activities. Government reluctant is forcing us to contemplate moving High Court for necessary directions,” Alvares stated.
GF said that the entire money recovered should be used to pay the dues of all the mining dependents, who are currently suffering due to closer of the industry.
