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Officials took bribes from mine-owners before Ramesh's tenure: Parrikar

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today alleged that officials of Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) took bribes from the state's mine-owners before Jairam Ramesh took over the ministry.

Talking to reporters here, Parrikar said bribery in theissuance of environmental clearances for mines was rampant in the past."Look at the Ministers who were holding the portfolio earlier (beforeRamesh)," he said, adding that he was not showing fingers either at A Rajaor T R Balu.

"There are many officials from MoEF who were involved...They gave ECs without considering the basic requirements.

All these officials would face probe," he said. In aletter to the current Union Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan last month,Parrikar had made a similar allegation.

At present, the clearances from MoEF allow fresh extractionof 47 million metric tonnes of ore yearly in Goa.

The Chief Minister also said his government's decision tocap the yearly extraction of ore at 45 MMT had factored in the transportationlimitations of roads and barges.

43 MMT of ore was extracted in Goa last fiscal, which isexpected to come down to less than 30 MMT in 2012-13.

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Major landslide blocks NH 17

A landslide, following heavy rains in the state, has cut off links between Margao and Panjim from 4am this morning.

Basuri Desai I The Goan
Published Sep 1, 2012, 8:21 AM IST
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Hundreds of cars and motorcycles have had to take a diversionthrough the narrow village road of Sancoale to circumvent this. Major traffic jamshave been witnessed in the Sancoale area where scores of interstate buses have hadto negotiate through narrow, three-metre wide roads. Many commuters stillremain stranded as the PWD, Fire &Emergency Services are still workingfeverishly to clear the mud and rubble. The entire police force from Vasco, Verna and Harbor policestation are…

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