PANAJI
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that figure of Rs 35,000-crore loss due to illegal mining was 'incorrect' and that the illegal mining outside the lease area was only 10 hectares as against the 578 hectares mentioned in the Shah Commission report.
The report of justice M B Shah has directed state Government to assess the actual loss to the state from each mine and other illegal mining based on ground realities. It had asked the State to take the help of a team of experts in the field with latest 3D Laser measurement equipment and other factors to assess the loss.
"Such an exercise was conducted with help of DGPS survey and it was found that surface distance outside lease hold area was less than 10 Ha as against 578 Ha mentioned in the Shah Commission Report," Parrikar said in his written reply to a question by Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar.
"As such, assumed figure of about Rs 35000 crore loss based upon such lease encroachment was found to be not correctly projected. However, the other illegal acts are being investigated on case to case basis," Parrikar said adding even the Comptroller and Auditor General had "not quantified loss from 88 operational leases."
He also said that the State government has not yet completed the investigation of illegalities taken place during that period which is being dealt with one by one in response to question on the steps that the government has taken to recover the money lost.
