Shah Commission to visit Orissa again

The Justice M B Shah Commission of enquiry appointed by Government of India to probe illegal mining in states, is set to visit Orissa yet again later this month.

This time, the commissioner, M B Shah, has opted out of Orissa visit and in his absence, the probe panel will be led by U V Singh, chief conservator of forests (Karnataka) and one of the commission’s members. The commission is likely to visit some mines in the Koira mining circle in Sundergarh district.

“The Shah Commission had indicated that they are going to visit Orissa sometime in April. But they are yet to communicate the date and detailed agenda with us,” said a top official of state steel & mines department.

 

The eight-member Shah Commission had previously visited Orissa in December last year. In its last visit, the commission had taken serious note of illegal mining activities, stating that it would not have been possible without the connivance of bureaucrats.

The commission also raised concern over the rampant extraction of iron ore by miners in excess of the approved mining plan especially in the Joda mining circle, urging the state to curb production so as to ensure that the finite mineral resource is preserved for future generations. The commission had also expressed displeasure over Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) for its alleged inaction against miners involved in ore extraction beyond the approved mining plan.

The mines inspected by the probe panel during its previous visit include Sarada Mines, Joda (east) mines of Tata Steel, Kasia iron ore and dolomite mines of Essel Mining & Industries, Mideast Integrated Steel's (Mesco) Barbil mines, Unchabali iron ore & manganese ore mines of Indrani Patnaik, Patnaik Minerals Pvt Ltd under Joda circle, Jajang mines of Rungta Mines, Mala Ray mines and B D Patnaik's Kalapahad mines. The panel members had also visited the Paradeep port.