Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government on Monday informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that the Directorate of Mines and Geology has issued order to recover Rs 2.5 crore from parties who were responsible for the illegal laterite quarrying at Collem.
The government has also initiated action against five police officers including two Police Inspectors (PIs) during whose tenure large scale illegal laterite quarrying took place in an unhindered manner, the HC was told.
While hearing a writ petition filed by Budho Arjun Goankar gearing illegal laterite stone quarry at Borkatem-Collem, South SP filed an affidavit stating that the Goa Police department has started departmental inquiry against the then two Collem PIs Prahoy Phadte and Sanjay Dalvi and preliminary inquiry against PSI Ajay Dhuri and two constables for the lapses on their part.
The Director of Mines and Geology in his affidavit stated about what action contemplated against all the illegal laterite stone quarries operating across the State.
Also former Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Member Govind Gaonkar told the Court that though the plot belongs to him, he was not carrying out illegal laterite stone quarrying. He said that he was the land owners and that his vehicles and machineries were used.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the Court that the chargesheet against the accused involved in illegal laterite stone quarry will be filed soon, while show cause notice has been issued for recovery of money. Adv Omkar Kulkarni appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has imposed Rs 1.25 crore fine on Sesa Resources Limited for mining of illegal letarite stone quarry.
The fine is been imposed in terms of Rule 63(3) of the Goa Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1985.
The amount has to be paid within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of this order issued on September 8 failing which the amount shall be recovered as per law established.
The order is been issued by director of mines and geology Suresh Shanbogue.