State govt in a tight spot over 'Mining Scam'

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) found itself in a tight spot yet again over the multi million crore mining scam with the Opposition members cornering the government on the issue and reiterating their demand for a CBI probe into the scam.

An adjournment motion on 'Mega Mining Scam and Renewal of Mining Leases' was introduced in the state assembly today by the Opposition Chief whip Prasad Harichandan.

Speaking on the occasion, senior Congress MLA Naba Kishore Das said, “the Opposition parties had demanded a CBI probe into the Rs two lakh crore mining scam and our demand will continue”. Terming the mining scam as the mother of all scams during the decade, he said, “we want to know whether the government is misleading the house or abetting the perpetrators of the scam. The people of the state are not going to be satisfied with a five or ten page reply of the steel & mines minister. Out of 597 mining leases in the state, 310 are operating under deemed extension and cases pertaining to Renewal of Mining Leases (RML) have been pending for 4-8 years.”

"The facts related to the mining scam will not come out unless there is a CBI probe into the matter and the house would like to know what action the government is taking against the miners who are not doing any value addition within the state”, he added.