Shah Commission findings exaggerated: Parrikar

Criticising the Justice M.B. Shah Commission report on illegal mining in Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Friday the quantum of land encroached on by mining companies mentioned in the report was exaggerated.

Contesting the commission's findings, Parrikar told the legislative assembly that the report stated encroachment over 578 hectares, but the state government, using the latest technology, placed this at only 9.86 hectares.

"We have used DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) which shows that encroachment is only 9.86 hectares exceeding lease area, not 578 hectares, as shown in the Shah Commisison report," Parrikar said.

Parrikar had claimed Thursday that the Rs.35,000 crore figure mentioned in the report about the mining scam was off the mark.

"The Rs.35,000 crore figure is just a dialogue by the Shah Commission. The very next line (in the report) says that it could be wrong," said the chief minister.

"I have not accepted that figure," Parrikar told the assembly, accusing the Supreme court judge of being cavalier.

Parrikar, who has been critical of the media exposure to the findings of the Shah Commission report also accused sections of the media of being "in love with Shah Commission".

The report has exposed the allegedly nexus between politicians, mining companies and bureaucrats in Goa's illegal mining scam.

The Supreme Court is already hearing a case related to the illegal mining scandal.