Shah Commission seeks details of closed-down mines in Goa

Justice MB Shah Commisison, probing the illegal mining activity in Goa, has sought details of the mines which have been closed down for some or the other reason in last five years.An official at the state Mines and Geology Department said that UV Singh, a member of the Centre-appointed Commission, visited the department yesterday and sought a list of such mines."A list of 54 mines which were closed permanently in the last five years has been submitted to the commission," the official said. The department also furnished a list of 22 mines which are operating illegally at present.It includes the mine owned by NCP leader Jitendra Deshprabhu, recently arrested in illegal mining case.Sources said that Shah Commission will not restrict the inquiry to 90-odd operational mines, but will also probe whether the non-operative mines are being used to extract the ore illegally.Eight inspection teams of the Commission, which had begun inspection of the mines a fortnight ago, had completed the job, an official said.