Goa Foundation, whose petition against illegal mining resulted in the nearly two-year long mining ban, wrote in a letter to Goa Chief Secretary B Vijayan demanding that criminal proceedings should also be started against Goa miners.
Earlier, Goa Foundation director Claude Alvares claimed that the Goa miners were trying to get away by merely paying a penalty.
"The amount due for recovery is in the region of approximately Rs.25,149 crore. With 12 percent interest burden, this amounts to Rs.35,780 crore," Alvares added.
In its recent judgement, the Supreme Court of India cancelled the mining leases of mining companies stating that they illegally operated their mining units between November 2007 and September 2012, and also lifted the two-year ban, asking the state government to formulate a new mining policy.
Alvares said, "Mining cannot be carried out in the absence of a valid mining lease."
"Under the provisions of the Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and Mineral Concession Rules, the government must commence the process of recovery of the amounts that have accrued to the mining lease holders through illegal mining operations during the period specified above."
Additionally, Alvares suggested government to create a separate organisation with an investigative and prosecution arm to recover the money.
"None of the parties involved in illegal mining should be allowed to dispose of their assets or create any further encumbrances on properties and consideration should be given to creation of an effective whistleblower," Alvares added.
