Congress legislators in Goa today demanded action against the mine owners who were found to be involved in illegal mining in the state.
"The mine owners involved in illegal mining should be put behind bars by the state government. What are you waiting for?" Congress legislator Vishwajit Rane asked on the floor of the House today.
Speaking on the demands for grants on mining, Rane said the state government should specify names of the mine owners in the affidavit filed before the Supreme Court.
Another Congress legislator, Mauvin Godinho, demanded that the state government should also recover the money earned by mine owners through illegal extraction of iron ore, before Supreme Court directs for the same.
"Even before SC asks you to start recovery, you initiate recovery. Money will flow into the state treasury. If they (mine owners) refuse to pay, attach their assets," Godinho said.
The legislator also appealed the state government to be on same page (in sync with) the Union government while presenting the case to defend legal mining industry in the state.
"No one is against legal mining," he said, adding, the apex court should vacate the stay on legal mining.
The Justice M B Shah Commission report, which had exposed illegal mining in the state, had termed that the mine owners claimed that illegal extraction was up to Rs 35,000 crore.
