Govt orders probe of Patnaik mines irregularities

The state government on Wednesday ordered the steel and mines department to start a probe against Patnaik Minerals Private Ltd and also asked it to submit the report within a week, after getting direction from M B Shah Commission, which is investigating mining irregularities all over the country.

The president of Antrashtriya Manavadhikar Association, an NGO, had filed a petition to the commission about violation of Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, 1957 and Mineral Concession Rules (MCR)-1960 rules by the particular mine.

“You are requested to cause enquiry into the matter, take appropriate action and submit a report to the government within a week. This may be treated as most urgent,” said a letter sent from the state steel and mines secretary to deputy director of mines, Joda circle, where the Banchapani mine of Patnaik Mines (P) Ltd is located.

On November 11, a ruling Biju Janata Dal legislator from Anandpur had written a letter to the state steel and mines minister citing irregularities caused by Banchapani mine lessee Jitu Patnaik, who is an independent MLA from nearby Champua assemble seat.

“Our government has ordered for inquiry into the violation of rule 37 of MCR-1960 by various lessees. But Jitu Pattnaik's role has been omitted by the investigating agencies. Lessee Patnaik has given the power to handle the operation of his leasehold mine to his nephew without the prior approval of the state or Union government,” BJD lawmaker Bhagirathi Sethy said in the letter.

The rule 37 of MCR 1960 prohibits subletting of leased mines without government approval. The state government has already constituted a committee to look into the alleged violation of rule 37 by several miners. The state mines department had earlier stopped the operation of Banchapalli mines of Jitu Pattnaik this year on allegations that the mine owner had encroached into the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) lease area and illegally raised mineral outside the lease boundary.