Bureaucrats involved in illegal mining: Shah Commission

The illegal mining investigator Shah Commission on Monday slammed the Orissa government officials for their direct links with the mineral excavators, transporters and exporters involved in large scale illegal mining activities in the state.

“Without the connivance of the bureaucrats, it (illegal mining) would not have been possible. The bureaucrats are directly involved (in day-to-day mining activities),” Justice M B Shah told media persons after his interaction with various political parties and NGOs here.

During his visit to the mine areas in Keonjhar last weekend, the commission was dissatisfied with local mine officers for not producing adequate documents related to mining activities. It had also criticised the state unit officials of the Indian Bureau Mines (IBM) for their lax attitude in allowing excess lifting of ores.

The commission, however, did not find any evidence about the involvement of politicians in the scam during the enquiry.

“We are not having direct evidence against who (politician) is involved. In Karnataka there was direct evidence of politicians, but not here,” Shah said.

The team also found evidences against violation of Rule 37 of Mineral Concession Rule (MCR), 1960 in several mines in the state.

“Yes, we have found violations of Rule 37 of MCR. But I can not disclose the names of the mines which are involved,” Shah told Business Standard.

Rule 37 of the MCR, 1960 prohibits subletting of mining lease by the original lessee. The state government has already formed a committee to probe the violation of this rule.

The commission said, high export rates of iron ore were responsible for excess lifting.

“One thing is certain that the illegal mining took place due to boom in the export (prices). About 92 per cent of mine extracted were sent to China. Regarding export ban, we have sent a preliminary report to the central government and the report is under consideration,” said the commission, which has been mandated by the Government of India to probe illegal miming in six states.

During the interaction, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members requested the commission to recommend a ban on exports while the Congress asked the probe team to investigate the trading licences issued by the state government. Almost all political parties and NGOs demanded that the commission should recommend a CBI probe into the mining scam as the state vigilance department has limited power to investigate the illegal operations of such a magnitude. Justice Shah along with seven other members is touring the state since December 7 and will return to Gujarat after visiting Paradip port on Tuesday.