Panaji | Dec 18, 2017: The directorate of mines and geology (DMG) will soon begin evaluating replies filed by the holders of 118 mining leases, to the audit report submitted by a team of chartered accountants to recover money from illegal mining activity.

Speaking to TOI, DMG director Prasanna Acharya said that the department will commence the task to evaluate the replies filed by the mine owners.

In 2015, the state government had appointed 15 chartered accountants to undertake a comprehensive audit of lease holders and traders of mineral ore in Goa during the last five years, when exports touched peak figures. The accountants had submitted an audit report of 118 mining leases to the mines department. Subsequently, the department analysed the report to ascertain the exact loss to the state owing to illegal mining.

A senior DMG officer said that based on the analysis, showcause notices were issued to the mining companies. The officer said that based on these notices, the mine owners submitted their replies and were later given a hearing.

The charter accountants are yet to begin the audit of 260 iron ore traders. Around 464 traders are registered with the mines department, out of which over 260 traders were involved in the mining business from 2007 till September 2012, the officer said.

The chartered accountants were asked to examine the exact quantity of ore extracted, exported, amount of royalty paid, export duty, ore (if any) sourced from other state, etc.

The Shah Commission report on illegal mining, which had exposed a series of irregularities in the state's mining activities, had pegged the loss of revenue to the government from the mining scam at Rs 35,000 crore.

Chief minister Manohar Parrikar had assured the Goa assembly in July 2012 that a team of chartered accountants would be engaged to conduct an audit of all ore export-related activities during the past five years.

(Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)