Shah Commission may visit Odisha again in early Nov

Panel checks records of 81 mine leases

The Justice M B Shah Commission of enquiry investigating into cases of alleged illegal mining is likely to visit Odisha yet again in early November for further investigation. The panel in its nine-day probe scrutinized records of 81 mining leases of the total of 186 iron ore and manganese mines lease records provided by the state government.

During the verification process, the panel admitted that some mining lease cases in Odisha were complicated but gave a clean chit to the state government.

“As far as records and other details are concerned, the assistance from state government is very nice so far,” said U V Singh, team leader of the visiting Shah panel after his meeting with the state development commissioner and additional chief secretary R N Senapati.

The probe panel will leave the state on Friday and would come back to check the records of 100 odd mines in the first week of November.

Meanwhile, sources said that on the final day of the nine-day long verification, the panel sought more details as it had found certain issues relating to mining operations complicated.

“The commission has asked for more details to be submitted by October 14. It's a massive task and we will have to do it at any cost,” said a highly placed government source.

The panel members were, however, tight lipped about it.

“It (Seeking information) is a part of investigation. When certain information is missing, we ask the state government to send those details. I can not divulge much about the investigation,” Singh said after his discussion with the officials of mining, forest and geology department as well as Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).

During its stay, the commission has received over 10 public petitions regarding mining rule violations and other irregularities. The panel, however, refused to elaborate on the details about the petitions.

The five member enquiry commission, which has been in Odisha since October 3, has detected massive irregularities during scrutiny of mining records and other documents. Most of the irregularities include conducting mining operation without statutory clearances such as forest and environment clearances.

The members of the commission are focusing their investigation on all iron ore and manganese leases permitted by Odisha since 1952, and are cross checking the data with relevant papers in other departments. Their investigation includes validity of mining leases, statutory clearances, mineral output, sale and tax deposits.