Shah Commission to set up committee to verify mine boundaries

The Justice M B Shah Commission, investigating alleged illegal mining in Odisha, today set up a committee for physical verification of the boundaries of mines.
"The committee will comprise seven members including a representative from the commission," Justice Shah told reporters on the third day of the hearing here.
The committee would have members from the state government, Indian Bureau of Mines and a representative of the lessee whose area is to be verified.
Earlier, several lessees had objected to the differential geographical positioning system (DGPS) for boundary demarcation alleging that the state government was using Google maps for surveys, which they claimed were inaccurate.

Justice Shah has allowed physical verification by 24 mining companies.
Meanwhile, Justice Shah's statement indicating existence of illegal mining in the state has sent ripples in the Odisha administration with senior officers holding a close door meeting last night.
The commission has detected that the state government allegedly allowed mining companies to go ahead without clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest.