Shah panel, Odisha govt differ over number of mines

The panel members of Justice M B Shah Commission of enquiry and state mines directorate have put forth different figures regarding number of iron ore and manganese mines in the state, prompting the commission to seek details of all such mines.

“We have given a list of 192 or 193 mining leases to the state government and we want to see all the files starting from serial number one,” said U V Singh, the head of the visiting probe panel today.

The state government on the other hand said it has leased out only 142 iron ore and manganese mines and will provide the details of those mines only.

“They (Shah Commission) have a different number from different organisations. But we have only 142 iron ore and manganese mines and we will clarify it to the commission,” said Deepak Mohanty, director of mines of Odisha government, after his meeting with commission members along with other department officials.

In the two hour-long meeting at the state guest house on Wednesday afternoon, the Commission ordered departments of commercial tax, finance, forest and environment, state units of Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and Union environment and forest ministry (MoEF) to keep all files related to the mines ready for a detailed probe.

In the second phase of probe, the commission said that it has received information regarding illegal mining in the state, but refused to divulge the details.

“It would be improper in my part to reveal the details at this point of time. People will get to know everything when the final report comes,” explained Singh.

The commission, which has already submitted reports on illegal mining in Goa in two parts, did not commit any date on the submission of report on Odisha. “It depends on the verification of records available with us, if we complete the report during this visit then it will be tabled shortly,” he said. The panel has already submitted an interim report on illegal mining for the entire country. The six member team of the Justice M B Shah Commission of enquiry appointed by the central government to probe illegal mining arrived here on Wednesday morning and had cleared the air that they will examine the records related to mining activities in the state. He said, depending on the situation the team may go for a field visit. The commission had earlier sought relevant information from the mining, forest and revenue departments as well as commercial tax directorate under finance department on areas like digitization of mine lease boundaries and cases of violations under mining and forest laws.

In December, 2011, an eight member team of the commission led by Justice M B Shah, a former Supreme Court judge, had visited select mines under Joda mining circle in Keonjhar district and had taken serious note of illegal mining activities, stating that it would not have been possible without the connivance of bureaucrats.