Panaji: Justice M B Shah Commission, 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 U V 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.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, September 24, 2011, 18:13