Shah panel to hear Odisha illegal mining issues tomorrow

The Justice M B Shah Commission, currently probing the illegal mining issues in Odisha, is likely to take up the final hearing on the mattertomorrow.

Industry sources said the hearing, scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad, might be the last chance given by the commission to the miners in Odisha to present their case against alleged violations in the state.

Subsequent to the hearing, the commission was expected to submit its report during May-June to the Union mines ministry, they added.

The Shah Commission, constituted by the Centre in November 2010 to probe illegal mining issues in the country, has so far submitted two reports—an interim report on overall illegal mining issues in the country and a specific report on the issue in Goa. In its report on Goa, the commission had pegged a Rs 34,935-crore loss to the exchequer due to illegal mining in the state.

After submitting its report on Goa in April last year, the Commission had started looking at any alleged illegal mining issues in Odisha and has held several round of meetings with the stakeholders, besides visiting the state several times. Its last hearing was held on April 3.

The Commission, which is yet to enquire the matter in Jharkhand and some other mineral-rich states, has already been given one year extension and its term expires on July 16.