PANJIM | Aug 25, 2015: Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has failed to furnish information, including details of iron ore production in the State for the period 2006-11, to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) almost 15 months after ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Act.
The ED in a reminder to Mines Director Prasanna Acharya has pointed out that despite a letter dated May 26, 2014 requesting survey reports of the mining leases, they have received no reply. DMG is the complainant in the matter.
In a letter sent this month, ED assistant director Girish Lotlikar has sought details of production of iron ore provided to the Justice M B Shah Commission and State Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the period 2006-11 (the investigating period of the Commission and PAC).
ED has also sought copies of the chartered accounts assessment report in respect of individual mine owners.
As per information, the chartered accountants’ panel constituted by the State government has submitted details of about 90 of 118 mining leases to DMG. Government had in 2013, constituted a panel of 17 CAs to ascertain the exact loss to the State from illegal mining and recover the same.
Copies of the DMG survey done with satellite images and copies of the cadastral maps in respect of individual mining leases along with survey numbers are also being sought by ED. “The information may please be provided on an urgent basis,” Lotlikar said.
ED in June last year had registered an enforcement case investigation report (ECIR) under Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Act, 2002, against government officials, mining companies and entities identified and mentioned in the report of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the Supreme Court, Justice M B Shah Commission report and PAC report. Two former Congress Chief Ministers – Pratapsingh Rane and Digambar Kamat – have been indicted in the M B Shah Commission and PAC reports. ED had also registered cases against 16 mining companies.
(Source: http://www.heraldgoa.in/)