Cong accuses govt of delaying mining probe, stages walk out

Opposition Congress today walked out of the Odisha assembly accusing the state government of trying to delay completion of investigation by Justice M B Shah Commission into the illegal mining activities in the state and demanded a CBI probe.
The issue relating to illegal mining was debated through an adjournment motion in which Congress and BJP attacked the BJD government for the alleged irregularities.
"The state government has been buying time to delay investigation process by producing the faulty DGPS (differential global positioning system) map. The mine owners objected to the state government's map before the Shah panel and got permission for fresh field verification," said Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan.

The state government did not want finalisation of mining investigation report by the Justice Shah Panel before the 2014 general elections, he alleged adding the state government produced 'faulty' GDPS map intentionally to help the mine owners.
"The state government imposing penalty of Rs 70,000 crore on different mining companies for excess production itself proves illegal mining in the state," Harichandan said adding DGPS and GPS maps have revealed mining beyond mining lease area.
The Congress law-makers said as these maps exposed the illegality, the government had now agreed to a fresh survey of mining lease boundary.
State Steel and Mines Minister R K Singh defending the government decision said fresh field verification was ordered by the Shah Commission. "We have been carrying out field verifications in order to implement the Justice Shah Commission's direction," the minister said.

The opposition Congress expressing its displeasure over the minister's reply reiterated its demand of CBI probe into the illegal mining and walked out of the assembly.