Mining scam: Goa Speaker removes Parrikar from PAC

Mangalore Today /PTI

Panaji, Oct 7:  Goa Speaker Pratapsinh Rane has reconstituted the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which was looking into the illegal mining scam.

Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar, has been dropped from the PAC. Parrikar was heading the committee preparing the report on illegal mining. The new Chairman is Vijay Pai Khot, a BJP MLA from South Goa.

 

Many say he is very close to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who has been indicted in the scam.

The PAC’s term was over, so technically the Speaker has gone by the rules, but the haste with which the committee was reconstituted has raised eyebrows.

Parrikar claims the Opposition was not consulted.

On Friday, the last day of Goa’s Assembly Session, the Speaker had refused the table the report on illegal mining prepared by Parrikar. The report alleged that Rane, along with Kamat, was also indicted in the report and hence the decision to not table the report.

Rane had however denied the charges and says he needs ’’more time to study and scrutinize the report.’’

The draft report also indicted Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who also holds the Department of Mines portfolio. The report alleges, Kamat, who has held the portfolio for over a decade, has reportedly been a silent spectator of illegal mining in Goa.

The report alleged that though only 10 of 40 delays of expired mining leases were condoned during Kamat’s tenure, given the high demand for iron ore, the value is pegged to be much higher.

The report had been submitted by Mr Parrikar to the Speaker on Wednesday. The four members of the PAC who refused to sign it, because they disagreed with its findings, include three Congress MLAs and one from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.

The Chief Minister had said in the Goa Assembly earlier this week that not a single new mining lease was given during his tenure as Chief Minister - a statement the Opposition did not buy.