Illegal Mining: Shah Commission Not to Submit Report This Time

Bhubaneswar: The six-member team of the Shah Commission that began its probe on October 4, into the illegal mining scam in Odisha, will take additional time and would submit its report on Odisha later, due to some more complexities involved in the investigation of the mining lease records in Odisha.

The Commission that had targetted to review the files of as many as 142 mines during its nine-day long visit in Odisha has so far completed the scrutiny of records of only 70 mines, sources said.

Shri U V Singh, Principal Conservator of Forest in Karnataka and the team leader of the Commission informed that the Commission might come for third time to complete verifications all the lease deeds of iron and manganese mines of the state.

“We cannot give a complete report at this stage without complete investigation,” Singh added.

It is noteworthy to mention that the Commission is verifying the records and probing into all the iron ore and manganese mines allocated in the State since 1952. It had been looking into different aspects like violations under forest, environment (air and water), mines and other related laws.

The Commission is scheduled to leave Odisha today.

Source: 360 NS