Orissa government says no to CBI enquiry into mining scam

The Orissa government today rejected the Opposition demand for an enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the irregularities at high level in the alleged mining scam running into hundreds of crores.

It stated that the current progress of the probe into the matter by the state vigilance department is satisfactory.

While some people have been cornered in the illegal mining scam, some more are likely to be booked for violation of the rules, said state minister for steel and mines, Raghunath Mohanty.

Replying to an adjournment motion in the state assembly, Mohanty said, there is no question of patronising or shielding anyone. The government is committed to a transparent and corruption free system and prompt action would be taken whenever any complain is received on illegal mining. However, the Opposition walked out of the house expressing dissatisfaction over the minister’s reply.

Elaborating on the measures taken by the government to check illegal mining, he said, a State Level Task Force (SLTF) has been constituted. Similarly, district level task forces have been formed under the chairmanship of the concerned district collectors to take strong steps to check illegal mining.

An inter-departmental committee (IDC) has been put in place under the chairmanship of Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (CCT) for modernisation of check gates.

The government is also working on a plan to leverage information technology for streamlining the mineral administration. To maximise collection of revenue another IDC headed by Transport Commissioner (TC) has been formed.

While the State Level Enforcement Squad (SLES) has been given adequate power to check illegal mining, 16 officials including 13 mining officers, who were holding the posts at one place for a long time, have been transferred. Steps are being taken for amendment of the Orissa Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004.

Besides, the license verification under the OMPTS Rules 2007 has started and the process would be completed by December this year, he added.

Earlier, the Opposition members alleged that the government was aware about the illegal mining in the state since 2001, but no action was taken to check it. The Congress members demanded that the state should ask the CBI to conduct the enquiry as has happened in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Since the scam involves people in high places and violation of MMDR Act, a central legislation, the vigilance enquiry will not serve the purpose.

BJP legislature party leader, K V Singhdeo tabled a number of bank accounts where large scale deposit and withdrawals have been made. Out of the nine transactions he mentioned, in seven cases the beneficiary was an account holder of Axis Bank, Satya Nagar branch, Bhubaneswar. Singhdeo wanted to know who was this beneficiary. He criticised the vigilance for not taking any action against the directors of two errant mines owned by Ram Bahadur Thakur and Arjun Lodha.

Leader of Opposition, Bhupinder Singh demanded that the government should come out with a white paper on illegal mining in the state.