Heated exchanges in assembly over mining scam inquiry

The Orissa assembly today saw heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches over the issue of conducting inquiry into the multi-crore mining scam in the state by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

This followed filing of criminal cases by the state vigilance department against two leading companies for their alleged involvement in illegal mining. The accused firms are Indrani Patnaik Mines and Triveni Earth Movers. The FIR against them was lodged at vigilance police station in Balasore yesterday.

While the opposition Congress members persisted with their demand for CBI inquiry into the mining scam, the ruling BJD members defended the government decision to probe the matter by the state vigilance department.

Some ruling party members pointed out that mining lease (ML) for Indrani Patnaik Mines was given in 5 days only.

The vigilance has found that the company was involved in illegal mining to the tune of Rs 132 crore. They demanded for strong action against perpetrators of this scam running into thousands of crores.

On the other hand, the Congress members continued with their demand for a CBI inquiry and alleged that the state government had allotted mines to people not having manufacturing units in the state.

They also criticised the government for not being able to book the directors of Ram Bahadur Thakur Ltd (RBTL), whose illegal mining operations was first exposed in June this year before the rampant clandestine raising and transportation of minerals in the Joda area of Keonjhar district was unearthed.