Shah panel seeks clarification from JSPL iron ore mines

Scrutinises mineral trade details of other three mines

The Justice M B Shah Commission of enquiry on Thursday sought details on output and raising permission of Tensa iron ore mines belonging to Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) in Koira mining circle during its first day of field trip.

During mining lease record verification process, the commission members had found some mismatch between its actual raising area details and map shown on Google Earth.

Besides, the probe panel asked the company to give details of its raw material requirements for its Raigarh and Deogarh plant and its supply arrangements with Sarada mines , situated in Joda mining circle. The company and Sarada mines have been asked to submit their reply by November 17, sources said.

The probe panel also visited the Nuagaon mines of lessees- KJS Ahluwalia, Guali iron ore mines belonging to R P Sao in Joda mining circle and Bonai Industrial Company mines of Rungta Mines in Koira and raised questions related to mineral production permission, sales and links to any mineral development industry.

The team, which is visiting the state for the second time within a month, arrived on October 31 and will stay till November 11. The panel had skipped field verification of mine leases during its last visit from October 3 to 11. Earlier, Justice Shah himself had led the team on his probe trail to the state in December, 2011. In the current field tour that will last till November 4, the panel members will visit mines under the jurisdiction of Joda and Koira mining circles. The members were accompanied by state director of mines, regional head of Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and other officials from state revenue and forest department. The Shah panel members had gone through the records of 83 mining leases during their last visit and are likely to examine the records of 99 more mines during the current trip.

The team led by U V Singh, additional principal conservator of forests, Karnataka government, consists of other members like Bishwajeet Mishra, conservator of forests (Karanataka), G T Pandya, deputy commissioner (industries & mines), Gujarat government, Janardan Prasad, senior geologist, Gujarat unit of Geological Survey of India and A V S Prasad, stenographer of the commission.

The panel is specifically keen on checking records of mining leases of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Odisha Minerals Development Company (OMDC) and Tata Steel during the current visit.

During their visit in Keonjhar district, association of forest and mining labourers gave memorandum to the commission members, requesting them not to recommend mining ban in the state, a move that will affect their livelihoods.