Goa Lokayukta notice to ex-CM, officials in mining renewal scam

Panaji : The Goa Lokayukta on Monday directed that notice be issued to former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and two officials in connection with a complaint by an NGO, alleging a Rs 1.44 lakh crore illegal mining scam involving renewal of mining leases.

Lokayukta P.K. Misra on Monday directed that notice, returnable by May 7, be issued to Parsekar, former state Mines Secretary P.K. Sain and Mines and Geology Department Director Prasanna Acharya, which are returnable by May 7.

Last month, NGO Goa Foundation, whose petition in the Supreme Court resulted in the closure of 88 mines in the state, alleged that the three had, in contravention of the Major Minerals Development and Regulation Act, illegally renewed 82 mining leases to companies already under probe for illegal mining.

The Foundation alleged that the state exchequer lost Rs 1.44 lakh crore due to the allegedly hurried renewal of mining leases, many of which were renewed a day before the Central government amended the MMDR act to make auctioning of major mineral resources mandatory.

Parsekar has maintained that he has done no wrong and that, as Chief Minister, had only followed the written advice on file notings inscribed by top officials including the Mines Secretary, Advocate General, etc.