Shah panel seeks details of iron ore & manganese leases

The Justice M B Shah Commission of enquiry probing into large scale illegal mining activities has urged collectors of Sundergarh, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar- the three mineral rich districts in Odisha, to furnish details of all iron ore and manganese leases on or before November 1.

“During the examination of records from October 4-11 in Bhubaneswar, it is observed that the district collector is supposed to grant surface rights for working to extract minerals from the granted mining leases. You are requested to furnish the detailed list of all iron ore and manganese ore leases in your district”, Sudhir S Shah, registrar, M B Shah Commission of enquiry wrote to the collectors of Kenjhar, Sundergarh and Mayurbhanj.

The commission has sought information on last lease deed executed, date and extent of surface right granted and amount (if any) charged for grant of surface right.

The panel will visit Odisha yet again from October 31-November 11 to continue its investigation into cases of large scale mining of iron ore and manganese without lawful authority.

The team to be led by U V Singh, additional principal conservator of forests, Karnataka government, will consist of other members like Bishwajeet Mishra, conservator of forests (Karanataka), Saroj Sadangi, deputy chief vigilance officer- South Eastern Railway (Kolkata), 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.