Recently the natural resource account report (2020-21) for Goa under the aegis of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has pointed out two issues concerning the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG). Firstly, “The lessees based on their own assessment of quality of ore, declared the percentage of lumps and fines in ore and paid royalty at applicable Indian Bureau of Mines rates for the declared grade of ore." Does this imply that the DMG did not conduct laboratory analysis or round robin tests to verify the ore grade declared by the lessees? This is shocking since incorrect values would have resulted in huge revenue loss to the government. Secondly, the report found a disparity in royalty amounts. In 2020-21, the DMG received Rs 73 crore for major minerals, their maintained data showed Rs 95 crore while records of the Directorate of Accounts (DoA) depicted Rs 100 crore! The variable numbers were ascribed to an absence of a proper software for accounting and recording the transactions. It is puzzling as to why the DMG has no proper software or accounting protocol, since the differences in royalties received run into crores of rupees. Hope the authorities address the above shortcomings.
