Is Suspended Mines Director likely to be inducted as one of CM’s Officers?
While the designation of Loliyekar has not yet been finalized, highly placed sources on condition of anonymity indicate to the probability of an Officer on Special Duty post for the suspended Mines Director.
Arvind Loliyekar has been in the eye of the storm since the illegal mining scam reports emerged during the tenure of the previous Congress-led government, which when in Opposition the current Chief Minister exposed vehemently and even alleged that the illegal mining scam in Goa is worth over Rs 25,000 crore. Loliyekar was suspended to make way for Prasanna Acharya to take over as the Director of Mines & Geology and over the last week has been working to tight the noose around the small traders.
However, issues raised by Goa Foundation on the illegal mine of MGP candidate Dinar Tarcar being termed as legal; is still keeping many fighting illegal mining questioning whether this government is serious in eradicating illegal mining or only going after the small traders without going after the actual mining companies extracting ore beyond permissible limits and in forest areas.