The Central Government-appointed Shah Commission is likely
to give its first report on illegal mining in Goa on December 1, officials said
today.
The commission, which has been investigating the iron ore
mining illegalities in Goa, is in its final stages of preparing an exhaustive
report that would bare the unlawful activity in the state.
“The first report would be submitted to the Union Mines
Ministry on December 1,” a senior commission member said, adding that the
second report would come subsequently.
The panel has been probing iron ore extraction, trading and
exports in Goa since mid-September this year for which eight teams were formed,
which with the help of local Mines and Geology Ministry, inspected 90-odd
working mines and 30-odd non working mining leases to arrive at a final
conclusion.
The senior member said the team would be visiting Goa for
the third and final round of investigations in November last week.
Illegal iron ore mining in Goa is estimated between Rs 1,200
crore and Rs 10,000 crore. The Goa Legislative Assembly constituted Public
Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the same has put the figure to Rs 4,000
crore in the last five years.
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