By Our Special Correspondent
Panaji (Goa) Goa Foundation (GF), the petitioner in the Supreme Court in illegal lease renewal matter, has served legal notice to the State government for recovery of Rs 65,000 crore from the lease holders, who were involved in illegal mining between 2007-2012.
The notice is been served to Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma and Mines Secretary Daulat Hawaldar stating that the failure to initiate recovery proceedings will force the GF to approach Court for necessary directions.
“Supreme court in its earlier judgment in April 2014, has termed the mining activities by the lease holders between 2007-12 as illegal and hence had asked government to initiate recovery of the loss. However, nothing has been done so far,” GF director Claude Alvares said.
Alvares said that an amount conservatively estimated at Rs. 65,058 is recoverable on account of illegal mining after November 22, 2007 till the ban on September 12, 2012.
He pointed out that Section 21(5) of the MMDR Act, 1957 requires a full recovery of the value of minerals when illegal mining takes place. And Rule 64A of the MCR, 1960 requires simple interest of 24 percent.
