CEC seeks additional info on mining scam

Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court today asked the Orissa government to furnish some additional information pertaining to the mining scam in the state.

However, it is reported to have expressed happiness over the strong action taken by the government in the matter. The state government would submit these additional information in the next date of hearing of CEC which is scheduled to be in the second week of February 2010, sources said.

The additional information sought by CEC include the number of many Mining Lease (ML) areas having deemed forest status (that is non-forest land having characteristics of a forest), number of deemed extension cases in forest and non-forest areas and number of cases of mining in forest and non-forest land beyond the mining lease area among others.

The CEC is reported to have appreciated the difficulties faced by the field level officials in understanding the Forest Conservation Act, which came into operation in 1980. The interpretation of the Supreme Court pertaining to the definition of forest was clear only after 1997, sources added.