Goa assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is understood to have expressed fears that if illegal mining in the state is not curbed, even the legal mines here face a closure, highly-placed sources said.

PAC report, which will be tabled in the house during the assembly session that begins from today, has reportedly indicted the state government for allegedly encouraging illegal mining.

It is learnt that the report says that illegal mining has resulted in strain on the infrastructure, ecology, agriculture and threatens to destroy the water security of the state, if it is not controlled immediately.

"During the series meetings, the PAC observed that the overburden of illegal mining is damaging the prospects of legal mining," the source stated.

PAC report, which has relied on the data provided by Directorate of Mines and Geology (DOMG) and forest department, has calculated that annually around 20 million tonnes per annum of ore is exported from the state.

"The total value of the ore that is mined in violation of the law on mining and environment exceeds Rs 4,000 crore annually," sources stated.

It is learnt that the report has directly indicted politicians and officers from the mines as well as the forest department, including their secretaries and director of mines department.

According to sources, the report says that details like involvement of politicians, quantum of illegalities and financial transactions, etc. can only be known after a thorough investigation.

The report is understood to have recommended that an independent agency like CBI or Lokayukta be asked to probe into illegal mining nexus being carried out in connivance of local politicians, bureaucrats of the mines and forest departments and police force.

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Union environment ministry under the scanner in Goa PAC report

The role of the union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) has come under the scanner in the Goa legislative assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on illegal mining, highly-placed sources said.

The report, which is likely to be tabled in the house, is understood to have said the issuance of environment clearance (EC) certificate by MOEF has become an "additional farce" that is being carried out to display compliance with the directions of the apex court without any serious examination of the ground".

The confidential report, it is learnt, has pointed out that granting EC has become "routine to such an extent that more than 150 ECs were granted in four talukas of the state from 2006 to 2010 before a blanket suspension for issuance of EC was granted by government of India.

It is learnt the PAC report is likely to recommend that state government should cap the total quantities of ore that the local area can take by clustering the leases based on their geographical locations and available transport network.

The committee, chaired by the leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar, is understood to have suggested Environment Impact Assessment of all the cases where the EC is granted be evaluated under the guidance of experts and the report submitted to MOEG for review of ECs wherever required.

It is also learnt that the committee has felt the state government should tell MOEF not to grant or renew any EC unless the impact of it due to clusters of mines and local transport infrastructure is taken into consideration.

Sources said the PAC has also recommended that no additional diversion of forst land be permitted for mining.

Influential politicians, ministers involved in mining scam:PAC

Indicting the Goa government for the mining scam, the state assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is understood to have said there is reasonable doubt prevails that influential politicians, including ministers, and those close to the power are deeply involved in it.

The report recommended that an independent agency like Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Lokayukta be asked to investigate into illegal mining nexus being carried out in connivance of local politicians, bureaucrats of the mines and forest departments and police force.

PAC sources said the report, which would be tabled on the floor of the house, has not named name any politician except Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Deshprabhu.

The committee did not go into complete details of the individual mining violations except a few who are involved but said "reasonable doubt prevails that influential politicians including ministers and those close to power are deeply involved".

The report of the PAC, chaired by leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar, has said locals in the mining belt were very vocal in naming the nexus between politicians, police and officials of forest and mines department.

The committee, which has based its investigations on the Comptroller Auditor General report, is understood to have said that total export of ores for last ten years needs to be investigated to identify the source of illegal mining and the money trail to identify the culprits involved.

The report is understood to have recommended that officials in forest and police department in talukas of Sanguem, Quepem, Bicholim and Sattari be transferred.

The committee, which has gone through the data provided by mines and forest departments, has concluded that 56,56,450 tonnes of ore have been extracted from the state for which no royalty has been paid during the financial year 2010-11.

"The quantity of the illegally extracted ore is huge and is valued at approximately Rs 1100 crore with loss of royalty of at least Rs 120 crore during the year 2010-11," the report has reportedly said.

Taking the period of 2005-06 to 2010-11, total quantum of illegal ore exported without any royalty payments is 1,42,00437 tonnes valued at Rs 2776 crores and royalty loss estimated at Rs 200 crores.