The Goa leader of opposition said it can be "inferred" from Kamat's actions through the State Mines and Geology Department that he does not want to punish the guilty.
Goa leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar today told the state Legislative Assembly that it can be "inferred" that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat might have been involved in illegal mining activities.
Parrikar, who headed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which extensively probed into illegal mining instances in the coastal state, said it can be inferred from Kamat's actions through the State Mines and Geology Department that he does not want to punish the guilty.
"Chief Minister (Digambar Kamat) by not opting for automation, we do infer that he does not want to punish anyone guilty. Obviously any person will draw inference that Kamat is involved in the illegalities," Parrikar said.
"Of total 54 million metric ton of ore exported from Goa, only 30 million metric ton is perfectly legal," the leader of opposition said while participating in a debate over supplementary demands for grants.
Saying a lot of automation is required in the department of Mines and Geology, Parrikar said Rs5-10 crore should have been sought under the supplementary demands for grants for the Mines Department so as to "put it in order".
"By not putting adequate infrastructure, is it government's intention that they don't want to improve the condition of mines department? The situation on the mining front can be improved only when you know online who is doing what in terms of exports," he quipped.
Parrikar said the department needs "necessary manpower, knowledge and backup".
The former chief minister pointed out that the state government had announced it would impose green cess on the mining rejects (low-grade ore) lying in the state but it did not go ahead with it.
"In the last two years, 2.52 lakh tone dumps were generated in the state, which could have earned Rs126 crore even if Rs50 per tone was charged on them," he added.
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