Goa Govt Sets Up High-Level Committee to probe illegal mining

The Cabinet of the Goa Government has approved the setting up of a 6-member high-level committee to inquire and submit a report to the government on the issues raised in the Shah Commission Report.

The committee will be headed by Justice RMS Khandeparkar – a retired judge of the Bombay High Court at Goa. It will consist of officers of the mininstry of environment and forests, environmentalists, a chatered accountant and superitendent of police of the anti-corruption branch. The committee has to submit its report within 60 days.

“Mining will be allowed to resume only after full compliance with the law,” expressed Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The committee which will start functioning in a week will also focus on effective control, supervision and regulation of mining operations in the state. It will report on the loss, pilferage to the public exchequer on matters of royalty, land cess, forest wealth, mineral resources, encroachment on government land and identifying the wrongdoers.